Early in March, the Kansas City Chiefs made a tough call: telling right tackle Jawaan Taylor he would be released, despite a year remaining on his contract. The decision was part of a broader offseason reset, one that cleared about $20 million in cap space and helped the team get back under the limit. But while it helped Kansas City’s numbers, it raised a different question: what’s next for Taylor? Well, considering he was a productive pass blocker, despite his excessive penalties, many teams would have been interested in him. He has a new home now.

Here’s what happened: After offensive tackle Kaleb McGary decided to retire, the Atlanta Falcons had a slot open. And Taylor fit the bill. So, the NFC franchise went ahead and signed Taylor the same day McGary announced his retirement.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported via X: “Falcons and former Chiefs free-agent offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor reached an agreement today on a one-year deal with a base value of $5 million and an additional $1 million in incentives, per his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey.”

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Currently, the Falcons have Storm Norton, Michael Jerrell, and Jack Nelson in the right tackle room. Norton brings six years of experience and 22 career starts, though he didn’t see the field in 2025 after a leg injury sidelined him for the entire season. Jerrell has only limited starting experience; Nelson, meanwhile, joined the team as a seventh-round selection in the 2025 draft. So, the team could surely use Taylor’s services, but there are some concerns as well.

His false starts are something Atlanta needs to fix. In the 2025 season with the Chiefs, the player recorded 13 penalties, which included two false starts. He was flagged for as many as seven false starts in 2024, and throughout his NFL career, he has recorded 83 accepted penalties. He also battles through injuries in the 2025 season.

Now, Taylor doesn’t match McGary when it comes to run blocking, but he could offer a modest boost in pass protection. All that said, his signing is positive news for the Falcons’ fans.

After arriving as a free agent in 2023, Taylor became a key piece in steadying the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive line. He played a role in their Super Bowl run that season, which made them the first team in two decades to win back-to-back titles in the league. So, it wouldn’t be wrong to say the Falcons got in a good deal.

Taylor’s addition will provide experienced depth and insurance as the team evaluates its quarterback options. With much-needed protection secured for the lefty signal-callers ahead of the 2026 season, both Penix and Tagovailoa are expected to compete for the Falcons QB1 role, as per Atlanta’s general manager.

Falcons GM issues clarity on Atlanta QB1 for 2026 season

After parting ways with veteran Kirk Cousins, the Atlanta Falcons have two dynamic quarterback options for the 2026 season. When asked who between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. will start, general manager Ian Cunningham revealed how both players are expected to compete for the QB1 role ahead of the new season.

“For Tua coming in here, he knows he’s coming in here to compete, like Michael (Penix Jr.) knows he is coming in to compete, everybody, quite frankly, not just those two at the quarterback position,” Cunningham said, as per the Falcons website. “There are no starters right now.”

After a few dominant seasons with the Miami Dolphins, the franchise benched Tagovailoa for the final three games last season after throwing a league-high 15 interceptions (compared with 20 touchdown passes) and ranking 30th in QBR.

Similarly, Penix also had a disappointing 2025 season, which ended with a partially torn ACL that required reconstructive surgery. The surgery took place in November, and he has been rehabbing.

With the Falcons’ front office bringing in former Chiefs star Jawaan Taylor, the onus will be on Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. to brush off their disappointing 2025 season performances and bounce back to kick-start this new era in Atlanta.