Bears Free Agency Preview: Jawaan Taylor makes dollars and sense at right tackle

The Chicago Bears’ 2023 free agency plan has to include an upgrade at right tackle. One of the best veteran options available on the open market is Jacksonville Jaguars starter, Jawaan Taylor.

Taylor, 25, has started each of the last four seasons for the Jaguars. He entered the NFL as a second-round pick from Florida (No. 35 overall) and has evolved into one of the NFL’s more respected starters at his position.

The Chicago Bears fielded a platoon of players at right tackle in 2022. Larry Borom and Riley Reiff were the most relevant, but neither player is expected to compete for a starting job in 2023. It’s more likely a big-ticket free agent like Taylor is added, with Borom (and perhaps Reiff) relegated to swing tackle duties as a backup.

Jawaan Taylor would be a logical target for GM Ryan Poles for a few reasons. First, he isn’t considered the top offensive tackle available in free agency. That distinction likely belongs to Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. Mike McGlinchey (San Francisco 49ers) could have a stronger market at right tackle. Kaleb McGary (Atlanta Falcons) will also get a long look from tackle-needy teams. Competition for Taylor may not be as fierce.

Second, Taylor could sign cheaper than the other free-agent right tackles. Spotrac has his projected market value at four years, $56 million ($14 million per season). That’s a number lower than McGlinchey ($14.9 million per season) and McGary ($17.7 million per season) are expected to earn. And while the Bears don’t have any money problems this offseason, Poles has made it clear he doesn’t want to spend money just to spend it.

Jawaan Taylor fits Bears’ long-term plan

Taylor offers the Bears the best long-term profile. He’s three years younger than both McGlinchey and McGary, and is fresh off the best pass-blocking season of his career, according to Pro Football Focus. Jawaan Taylor’s 2022 pass-blocking grade was higher than both McGlinchey’s and McGary’s, and his 5.2% pass-rush rate on true pass sets ranked him among the top 10 offensive tackles last year, per PFF.

That certainly sounds like the help Justin Fields needs.

Taylor isn’t a perfect player. He struggled as a run blocker last season and has been a work-in-progress as a pass protector before 2022’s breakout. But that’s to be expected with young offensive tackles. Taylor doesn’t turn 26 until November, he’s gone through his growing pains and appears to be emerging as one of the NFL’s quality right tackles.

Sure, the Bears could prioritize one of the other higher-priced offensive tackles in free agency, but Chicago isn’t quite ready to compete for a championship in 2023. At least, it doesn’t appear like they will be. And if that’s the case, it would make more sense for Poles to sign a player who’s as young as some 2023 NFL Draft prospects. As Chicago progresses toward the playoffs and Super Bowl contention, a player like Jawaan Taylor will still be along for the ride in his prime years.

Taylor will have a long line of teams willing to pay up for his services, but few teams have the combination of money available and a quarterback like Justin Fields to entice a young player of his caliber. Taylor is a logical target to fix the Chicago Bears’ right tackle problem for many seasons to come.

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