KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs released veteran right tackle Jawaan Taylor, whose track record of penalties often overshadowed his otherwise solid play in Kansas City, hours after agreeing to trade cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday.
While the decision to trade McDuffie was made in large part for the draft capital they received in return, the decision to part with Taylor was driven by the salary cap.
The Chiefs saved $20 million by releasing him ahead of the new league year.
The Chiefs had already worked down their salary cap total by releasing veteran defensive end Mike Danna and restructuring the contract of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Those moves collectively allowed Kansas City to not only get under the cap but created some flexibility to address a number of pressing needs when free agency begins next week.
Taylor had one year left on the four-year, $80 million deal he signed in 2023, when the Chiefs were working to rebuild their offensive line. He helped them win the Super Bowl that season and return to the championship game the following year, but he also committed 49 penalties in 45 games with the Chiefs, more than any other offensive lineman during his tenure.
The Chiefs are expected to start Jaylon Moore at right tackle next season. It will be the second year of his two-year, $30 million deal.
Earlier in the day, the Chiefs agreed with the Rams on a trade that will send McDuffie to the NFC and net Kansas City the 29th overall pick in this year's draft, along with fifth- and sixth-rounders this year and a third-round pick next year.
Three people confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it was not yet finalized.
McDuffie was a first-round pick in 2022 and entering the final year of his rookie contract, due to make $13.6 million for this coming season. But given the Chiefs' financial situation, it would have been difficult to sign McDuffie to the kind of long-term deal the former All-Pro was seeking, so the Chiefs opted instead to trade him for a package of draft picks.
It is not unlike the move they made in 2022, when they traded wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins. The Chiefs used the package of draft picks they got in return to rebuild their roster with younger players who helped them to three straight Super Bowls.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
FILE - Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (74) gets set to block Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller (40) during an NFL football game, Dec. 10, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken, File)
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 11, 2026--
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260511887775/en/
Porter provides comprehensive flight schedules from both Toronto airports, emphasizing its continued investment in Canada’s largest city.
Toronto-City - Nashville is operated on the De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft, with daily service beginning today. The new route connects Billy Bishop - located just minutes from downtown Toronto - with one of North America’s most popular getaway destinations. Since launching U.S. flights from YTZ in 2008, Porter has been committed to providing elevated economy service between Toronto and key American cities. The new U.S. Customs Preclearance facility at Billy Bishop offers even greater convenience to passengers. Porter continues to build frequency and connectivity from the city’s downtown airport, providing more options for travellers than any other airline.
Service between Toronto Pearson and Quebec City will be operated by the brand new 132-seat Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, with 12 weekly roundtrip flights beginning May 12. The new route complements existing Toronto-City service. Connections are available through Toronto Pearson to Western Canada destinations such as Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Kelowna. Additionally, these flights are optimally timed for our partner Air Transat’s extensive European network accessible via YQB, including destinations such as Lisbon, Rome, Venice, Paris, and Amsterdam.
Porter’s presence at Toronto Pearson continues to grow, connecting to more than 30 routes across North America, Mexico, the Caribbean and Costa Rica.
On every Porter flight, passengers can expect genuine hospitality and an elevated level of onboard service, including no middle seats, complimentary wine and beer served in glassware, and premium snacks. Routes operated with the E195-E2 also have free, fast WiFi available for everyone.
PorterReserve fares offer passengers an all-inclusive economy experience, with fresh meals, extra legroom seats, premium pre-mixed cocktails, priority check-in, and ticketing flexibility. These options are available à la carte with PorterClassic fares.
Full schedule details are available at www.flyporter.com.
Quotes
“Porter continues to build connectivity from Toronto’s two complementary airports, providing even more options for travellers to explore this summer. Nashville and Quebec City are both popular destinations, rich in culture and history. Passengers can now connect easily to Porter’s expanding Eastern Canada network from Billy Bishop and across North America from Toronto Pearson.”
- Andrew Pierce, vice president, network planning and reporting, Porter Airlines
“Porter’s new nonstop service to Nashville marks a significant milestone in the continued expansion of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport’s transborder network. This route improves both choice and convenience for travellers, while strengthening Toronto’s direct links to some of North America’s most in demand destinations. With the introduction of U.S. Preclearance and Porter’s ongoing investment in service from downtown Toronto, this launch underscores strong confidence in Billy Bishop Airport’s role as a passenger-focused urban airport. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Porter as we support greater connectivity, drive economic benefits, and deliver seamless travel experiences for the city and region we serve.”
- RJ Steenstra, president & CEO, Toronto Port Authority, owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
“Porter’s new nonstop service to Nashville is a great example of how Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and partners continue to evolve in ways that put the passenger first. With U.S. preclearance now in place, travellers can enjoy more choice and a smoother, more seamless experience when flying to the U.S. from downtown Toronto. This route reflects the strength of our partnership with Porter and the Toronto Port Authority, and our shared focus on delivering the kind of convenient, elevated travel experience passengers expect and value.”
- Eve Wiggins, chief operating officer, Nieuport Aviation
“Porter Airlines’ first departure from Nashville International Airport (BNA) marks an important addition to our growing international offerings. As demand for global travel continues to rise in Middle Tennessee, expanding our partnerships is essential to providing travelers with more destinations and greater convenience. Nonstop service to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) offers a direct connection into downtown Toronto, giving our passengers another valuable option for international travel. We’re proud to welcome Porter as our newest airline partner and to celebrate the launch of a service that further enhances BNA’s global reach.”
- Doug Kreulen, president and CEO, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA)
“We welcome Porter’s continued expansion of service to destinations across the country. Quebec City is a vibrant and important market for both business and leisure travel, and this new route gives passengers more choice, greater convenience, and easier access to the destinations they want to reach across Canada at a time when demand for domestic travel continues to grow.”
- Carl Jones, head of business aviation development, Toronto Pearson
“We are pleased to see the return of the route between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport, operated by Porter Airlines. These 12 flights to the Canadian metropolis are fully in line with our objective of offering more options to travellers from the region and across Québec. They also help to strengthen connectivity to popular destinations in Western Canada.”
- Stéphane Poirier, president and CEO, YQB
About Porter
Since 2006, Porter Airlines has been elevating the experience of economy air travel for every passenger, providing genuine hospitality with style, care and charm. Porter’s fleet of Embraer E195-E2 and De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft serves North America, including a coast-to-coast domestic Canadian network, the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. Headquartered in Toronto, Porter is an Official 4 Star Airline® in the World Airline Star Rating®. Visit www.flyporter.com or follow @porterairlines on Instagram, Facebook and X.
Porter Airlines continues to grow its Toronto network with new service between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) and Nashville International Airport (BNA), as well as reintroducing service from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB).
