Jawaan Taylor gets another chance for a fresh start with NFC South team

Jawaan Taylor has found a new home, and it's back in the dirty south! 

The jumbo offensive lineman and former Florida Gator standout is signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Taylor, who played in Gainesville from 2016-2018, was on the market after he was released by the Kansas City Chiefs last month ahead of the new league year in the NFL. 

This move by the Falcons is likely in response to the sudden retirement of starting right tackle Kaleb McGary after seven seasons. McGary suffered a major knee injury that forced him to miss the entire 2025 season.  

Taylor gets another chance to be a starter with a clean slate under new Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski. He was rated as one of the worst starting tackles in the NFL last year, just two seasons after signing a massive $80 million contract with the Chiefs in 2023.

Jawaan Taylor signs a one-year contract with the Falcons

Taylor played three seasons with the Gators before opting to leave early for the NFL Draft. He was selected in the second round (35th overall pick) by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Taylor started every game at right tackle for the Jaguars and all but five games for the Chiefs. He won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs in 2024, but last season Kansas City struggled with injuries and an elbow injury in December put Taylor on the shelf for the rest of the year. 

The one-year deal for a player with a lot of experience as a starter presents a low-risk investment. For Taylor, it's a chance to revive his career after a disastrous season in Kansas City. He'll be working with veteran offensive line coach Bill Callahan, who has rehabilitated many careers. 

The market for Taylor wasn't exactly robust, so this has to be considered the best-case scenario. Let's hope he's in shape and ready to roll when the camp begins.