Does latest Chiefs signing mean Jawaan Taylor moves back to right tackle?

When the Kansas City Chiefs signed tackle Jawaan Taylor to a four-year, $80 million contract in free agency, the expectation was he would replace Orlando Brown Jr. as the team’s starting left tackle.

But after the Chiefs signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Donovan Smith to a one-year deal on Thursday, one has to wonder if the team has concerns about Taylor moving to the left side.

Smith spent eight seasons as the starting left tackle for the Bucs. In fact, he’s played all 8,974 offensive snaps of his career at left tackle. His experience coupled with the reported $9 million salary Kansas City is paying him would seem to suggest Smith will play on the left side.

Taylor, who played 1,210 snaps at right tackle and had just 18 snaps at left tackle in 2022, isn’t completely unfamiliar with playing on the left side. He started three games at the position during his freshman and sophomore seasons at the University of Florida, and during his introductory news conference after signing with the Chiefs he suggested that a position switch shouldn’t be a problem for him.

“Left tackle, right tackle, it’s just a flip of the hips honestly,” Taylor told reporters. “Other than that, (it’s no big deal) if you’re athletic enough and you trust your feet. You’ve got great coaching as well, which I know that’s here. I feel like the transition will be pretty good.”

Kansas City is replacing both of its starting tackles after losing Brown Jr. to the Cincinnati Bengals and Andrew Wylie to the Washington Commanders. 

In addition to Taylor and Smith, the Chiefs drafted Oklahoma tackle Wanya Morris in the third round last week and they have 2020 third-round pick Lucas Niang in the rotation as well.