New Beginnings for Offensive Tackles Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor with the Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have added two new offensive tackles to their roster, Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor. While they may be at different points in their careers, both players are seeking a fresh start with the Chiefs. Smith, an established veteran, is coming off what was statistically his worst season in eight years, while Taylor, a younger player, is looking for a change of scenery away from his home state of Florida.
Smith, who played his entire career for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before signing with the Chiefs in May, expressed his excitement for the new opportunity. He stated, “I’m healthy. I’m fresh. I’m feeling real good. I know who I am as a player. I know what I can accomplish. That’s what I’m going to continue to do.” At 30 years old, Smith is looking to bounce back and prove himself once again.
On the other hand, Taylor, at 25 years old, is ready to embrace change after spending his entire life in Florida. He said, “To have the opportunity to come and try something new and be [in] a great organization, I was all for it.” Taylor played his first four seasons for the Jacksonville Jaguars and is excited to join the Chiefs and contribute to their success.
The Chiefs were also in need of a fresh start at the tackle position. They were unable to meet the contract demands of their previous starting tackles, Orlando Brown Jr. and Andrew Wylie. Brown was acquired in a trade two years ago with hopes of him becoming their long-term solution at left tackle. However, contract negotiations fell through, and he joined the Cincinnati Bengals this year. Wylie also left as a free agent, signing with the Washington Commanders.
To address their tackle needs, the Chiefs signed Taylor as their big free-agent acquisition this year and brought in Smith shortly after the draft. During offseason practice, the team couldn’t fully evaluate the two players without pads and physical play. The real test for both will come during training camp.
Head coach Andy Reid spoke highly of both players, stating, “They’re smart guys. They’re taking good sets and doing the things that they’re supposed to do… They’re making sure they’re ready once we get up to training camp.” The Chiefs initially considered Taylor as a replacement for Brown on the left side, but with Smith’s arrival, they decided to keep Taylor in his familiar right tackle position.
Smith had a challenging season last year, with the lowest pass-block and run-block win rates of his career. He played through an elbow injury and missed four games, which affected his performance. However, the Chiefs have confidence in Smith’s abilities, having faced him and the Buccaneers three times in the past three seasons, including Super Bowl LV. Reid praised Smith, saying, “He’s been a left tackle at a high level… I know from seeing him firsthand that he’s a good football player.”
Before signing Smith, the Chiefs consulted with new backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who played with Smith in Tampa Bay. Gabbert spoke highly of Smith’s athleticism and durability, stating that he is one of the most gifted left tackles he has seen in his 13-year career. Gabbert believes Smith will bounce back this year and make a significant impact on the team.
Smith signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs, giving him the opportunity to prove himself and potentially earn a longer-term contract next year. He expressed his goals and expectations, saying, “I’ve accomplished a lot of my goals from initially coming into the league… Now it’s just, keep building on that.”
Both Smith and Taylor are looking forward to their fresh starts with the Chiefs. With their skills and determination, they aim to contribute to the team’s success and help the Chiefs reach their goals in the upcoming season. As training camp approaches, all eyes will be on these new offensive tackles as they strive to make their mark with their new team.