Jaylon Moore knew it might come to this with the Kansas City Chiefs.
When Moore, a veteran offensive lineman, first arrived in K.C., it came with the fanfare of being the team’s starting left tackle—or at least a candidate for the job. Signed to a two-year deal worth up to $21 million, Moore was the front office’s first attempt in an emphasized offseason plan to add significant competition at the bookend positions.
Moore spent his first four seasons learning from the very best in the business as a former fifth-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers. That left him waiting in the wings behind Trent Williams, which provided him a masterclass in how to handle the responsibilities of a blindside protector. Then again, it wasn’t as if Williams was fading anytime soon, even into his mid-thirties.
Jaylon Moore is saying all the right things about his status with the Chiefs in training camp.
That’s why Moore decided to come to Kansas City and forge his own path after four years of tutelage under Williams (who coincidentally was pursued by the Chiefs several years ago in free agency). Yet shortly after signing, general manager Brett Veach made his next significant move to bolster the position by drafting Josh Simmons.
Simmons was the Chiefs’ first-round pick, and as a heralded prospect out of Ohio State, he became the favorite to win the role if healthy after suffering a torn patellar. Fortunately for the Chiefs, Simmons’ recovery has been coming along just fine. He’s been entrenched as the team’s left tackle for minicamp and all of training camp so far.
The positive reports on Simmons have left Moore without a clear position. At times, he’s earned starting reps at right tackle, but that’s largely been when Jawaan Taylor has missed time due to injury in camp. He’s also taken snaps at left guard, but those are likely reserved for Kingsley Suamataia when the season begins.
So far, Moore is saying the right team-first things as he tries to settle in. When asked about the shift in narrative following Simmons’ arrival, Moore said he was ready for such a potential scenario, knowing things can change quickly in the National Football League.
“It’s the NFL, things happen, and I’m just trying to be in the best position to kind of help move the team forward and just be as good as I can be,” said Moore, after the team’s training camp practices on Sunday.
Given his reps along the interior, it makes sense to wonder how ready Moore would be if called upon to slide inside. He admitted “it’s newer” to him when asked about his comfort level. “It’s football, so I mean, the biggest thing is just keep trying to take steps forward, just keep trying to improve, looking at the film, trying to improve every day,” said Moore.
Moore is locked up for the next two seasons in Kansas City, and while he might be waiting for another year behind Simmons and Taylor, if everyone stays healthy, he’s also likely slotted in at right tackle for 2026, knowing that Taylor’s cap hit is going to likely send him packing next spring.
Only 27 years old, Moore stands to receive at least one more significant contract if he can prove worthy of a starting spot with the Chiefs. That added versatility of learning left guard could come in handy. However, when asked about improving his own stock on the open market, his response was exactly what Chiefs coaches would want to hear.
“I mean, personally, yeah, but I mean, at the same time, I’m just trying to do the best I can to improve the team and be as best I can be for the team wherever I need to be,” said Moore.
