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Ex-Chiefs Tackle Now Ranks Among NFL’s Best Pass Protectors
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- Ex-Chiefs Tackle Now Ranks Among NFL’s Best Pass Protectors
Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Atlanta Falcons tackle Jawaan Taylor is actually one of the best pass protectors in the entire league right now. While many fans worried about the right tackle spot after Kaleb McGary retired, Taylor has provided a massive reason for optimism. He is currently performing at a very high level in the trenches.
The numbers show just how well he is doing. Taylor has become a standout player through the initial five contests of the 2026 season. According to reports, he holds a 92% pass block win rate, which ranks him fifth among all offensive tackles. He is only behind Kolton Miller of the Las Vegas Raiders, Tristan Wirfs of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the recently retired Lane Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Jermaine Eluemunor of the New York Giants.
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A Change in Performance Since Kansas City
It is hard to ignore how different he looks in Atlanta compared to his time with the Chiefs. I remember how frustrating those final years in Kansas City were for many of us. Taylor struggled with frequent penalties during prior seasons there. Blogging Dirty reports he received 16 flags in 2023 and 14 in 2024.
Now, he seems to be providing the steady presence the team needed when they signed him in April. He is not perfect, but he is doing his job. He has used his 111 career starts from his first seven seasons to help stabilize the line. This experience is exactly what the Falcons needed to fill the void left by McGary.
Addressing the Offensive Line Concerns
Entering the season, many people viewed Taylor as the weak link on the offensive line. Although Blogging Dirty identified him as the tackle Falcons fans feared most, that perspective could be incorrect. While the team needed to replace McGary, the real concern might actually lie elsewhere. According to the report, Taylor has excelled at shielding Michael Penix Jr. The concern actually lay with Jake Matthews instead.
