Former Florida OT Jawaan Taylor Cashing In With Super Bowl Champion Chiefs

Former Florida Gators lineman Jawaan Taylor will join reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City with a massive raise after a career-best season in Jacksonville.

What a difference a year makes. 

After questions about the long-term upside of Jawaan Taylor as Trevor Lawrence's frontside protector earlier in his career, a banner 2022 campaign for the playoff organization has resulted in Taylor earning the biggest free agent contract in annual value and guarantees among NFL offensive tackles to date this offseason. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Taylor will be departing the Jaguars for the team that ousted them in the AFC Divisional Round last season, and of course the defending Super Bowl Champion, Kansas City Chiefs.

The massive deal is reported in the range of four years, $80 million with a whopping $60 million guaranteed. It is said to have been confirmed through multiple agent sources in the Taylor camp.

Former Jaguars’ OT Jawaan Taylor reached agreement on a four-year, $80 million deal, including $60M gtd, with the KC Chiefs, per sources. Deal negotiated and confirmed by Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey. pic.twitter.com/jm0XYJUtTy

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2023

Perhaps just as surprising as Taylor's turnaround is the now all-but-imminent departure of Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown, who has been expected to test out free agency after the Super Bowl run. For Taylor, it likely means moving to left tackle to protect the blindside of one of the few quarterback commodities with more eyeballs around him than Lawrence, reigning league and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes. 

Taylor, who was a captain for the playoff game against Kansas City in what would become his final game as a Jaguar, proved durable in addition to much improved during his time in Jacksonville. He saw action in every game and logged every snap along the offensive line since the first game of his rookie season back in 2019. Per PFF, Taylor allowed just five sacks in 2022 while logging nearly 1,100 total snaps. 

Before the quick NFL rise, Taylor starred at the University of Florida where he was also as consistently available as possible, not missing a game during his three years in Gainesville, including in 2018 when he was a second-team All-SEC selection by Athlon Sports. After his final Gators campaign, Taylor was selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

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