Can Chiefs’ top free-agent signing make seamless shift to left tackle? What he thinks

Early indications are that the Kansas City Chiefs signed Jacksonville right tackle Jawaan Taylor believing he could move to the left side.

Taylor, in his first meeting with KC reporters on Thursday, said he’s ready for that if it happens. Former Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. signed a free-agent contract with the Cincinnati Bengals this week.

“I feel like I’m definitely athletic enough to make the switch over, and very, very versatile. So I feel like I can go out and make the switch pretty seamless,” Taylor said. “But you know, at the end of the day, if they need me to switch over and play other positions, I’m open to doing it. I’m just here to try to help his team win a championship.”

The Chiefs agreed to a four-year, $80 million deal with Taylor earlier this week, with $60 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Taylor, 25, was ranked the 16th-best free agent available this offseason by Pro Football Focus. He’s primarily played right tackle in his NFL career, though, with 4,282 snaps at that position compared to 18 at left tackle.

He still seemed unconcerned with a potential relocation across the line Thursday.

“Left tackle, right tackle is just a flip of the hips, honestly,” Taylor said. “Other than that, if you’re athletic enough and you trust your feet and you’ve got great coaching as well — which I know that’s here — I feel like the transition will be pretty good.”

Taylor started two games at left tackle in college; he moved there in 2017 after Florida suffered injuries on its offensive line.

He described that last opportunity to start on the left side as “fun.”

“Now I have the opportunity to play it again. I’m very, very excited for it, and I’m embracing the opportunity,” Taylor said. “So I’m just getting ready to go. I should be ready to go by the time we report back.”

Taylor said a “good amount of teams” were involved in trying to sign him once free agency opened. When his agent told him about the possibility of joining the Chiefs, though, he was intrigued.

“I just felt like it was a great opportunity,” Taylor said. “And obviously I couldn’t pass it up, so I went with it.”

Taylor’s most significant strength with Jacksonville was his pass blocking, as he allowed just 21 pressures in 19 games last season. The run-blocking hasn’t been as impressive thus far; Taylor’s 39.7 PFF grade in that aspect was the lowest among all tackles who played 80% of their team’s snaps in 2022.

On Thursday, Taylor met with Chiefs coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach and said he had a conversation with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“He’s a very great guy. I can tell already he’s a great leader, very laid-back guy,” Taylor said of Mahomes. “So can’t wait to go out there and battle with him.”

This will be a change for Taylor personally. Born in Cocoa, Florida, Taylor said he’s never lived outside that state.

“Having an opportunity to come try something new and be on a great organization,” Taylor said, “I was all for it.”

Taylor said he was also looking forward to some stability after changing offenses with Jacksonville each of his first four NFL seasons.

“Hopefully with Coach Reid being here, I’ll be able to finally get comfortable in one offense, and I won’t have to learn a new one again,” Taylor said. “Hopefully it’s the last one I have to learn for a while. So I definitely look forward to it.”