The Kansas City Chiefs selected Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons with the 32nd pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday.
I previously analyzed Simmons’ game as a part of our On the Draft Board series, and was impressed with what I saw on film. He has fluid feet, a strong base and the power needed to play the position at the pro level. It is clear to see why he would likely have been an early first-round pick if he had been healthy, but the patellar knee injury he suffered in October 2024 will slow him down to begin his professional career.
Thankfully for the Chiefs, they positioned themselves well in free agency, so they wouldn’t need a rookie left tackle’s services immediately.
If the Chiefs want to, they will have a chance to “redshirt” him for the 2025 season, but this year will still be critical for his development.
Ensuring health
Ensuring Simmons is healthy and ready to go will be the most critical factor in his development and should not be rushed. Patellar tendon tears like the one Simmons suffered in his left knee can range from anywhere between six to 12 months of recovery.
During the Night 1 press conference, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid noted that Simmons’ surgery had “looked good” and that they expected him to be ready for training camp — a good indicator of how his medical evaluation went with head trainer Rick Burkholder.
A small bit of footage showed that Simmons did some brief work at the Ohio State pro day despite sitting out all athletic testing, but this showed his progress.
The team will need to see how he performs on the football field before making a decision to clear him to play, but all signs indicate he is on the right track. There is no need to rush him back either, and with the kind of player he has a chance to become, this is a wise decision.
Progression
Simmons will likely not be cleared for contact right away, but during the team’s organized team activity (OTA) period and minicamp, he will be able to gain valuable mental reps and start to understand the Chiefs’ playbook.
Reid’s playbook is historically extensive, and any player who wants to find success early on in their career must grasp it. OTAs and minicamps will be non-contact sessions. Regardless, this should allow Simmons more time to make sure his knee is properly healed while also doing some low-tempo walk-throughs and learning sessions.
Once camp starts, it will be at the discretion of the training staff and coaches on when he can be cleared for full participation. In the meantime, this will give him a good chance to work on some areas of his game that need refinement from college.
Where development is needed
One such area is his ability to strike in pass protection with power.
This is a win for Simmons, but it is also an example of where he needs to improve his hands. He gets his hands in a good spot but doesn’t generate much force into the defender. He wins with the strong anchor and core, but at the NFL level, he will need to fire a strong punch. pic.twitter.com/bPS5nvTbmv
— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) April 27, 2025
This is a solid snap from Simmons, but at the NFL level, he must deliver his hands with more force or develop a better plan for them.
On the snap, Simmons uses his quick feet to start his pass set. As the edge rusher approaches, Simmons lands his hands inside, latches on, then uses his anchor and base strength to sit down and stop the rush.
Simmons gets into his pass protection posture well and shows off the aspects of his game that made him a first-round pick, but at the NFL level, he will need to be cautious when bringing his hands.
NFL edge rushers will take advantage of tackles who show their hands too early or don’t bring enough force. This is where a crafty rusher with an arsenal of swipes, swims, rips and dips will take advantage and look to win a play quickly.
Simmons will likely be asked to use his independent hands more frequently, which he showed the ability to do at Ohio State. However, having the initial power shot to stop a defender and disrupt a rush plan will be what he should strive for as camp starts.
When could we see Simmons?
The Chiefs signed Jaylon Moore from the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, and at the moment, he is slated to be the starting left tackle in 2025. Moore was not a full-time starter in San Francisco, but his film showed a player on the rise who could more than fill in as a stopgap for just a season while Simmons gets ready.
To some extent, the Chiefs could handle this situation similarly to how they handled Patrick Mahomes’ rookie season in 2017. Still, if Simmons is ready to play by midseason and the line is struggling, the team will likely not hesitate to see what he can do.
Adding a versatile player like Moore gave the Chiefs flexibility, and if there are struggles at other spots on the line, it could lead to him moving to another position while Simmons takes the reins at left tackle.
With a competition at left guard between Kingsley Suamataia and Mike Caliendo set to be underway in camp, as well as an uncertain future for right tackle Jawaan Taylor, it is possible that during the 2025 season, the Chiefs slide Moore to one of those spots to sure them up, and get Simmons in the line up at left.
This would be the worst-case scenario. The best case would be that the line holds up as designed for 2025 and we see Simmons make his debut as a starter in 2026.
The NFL season is unpredictable, and a lot can happen. Simmons has all the talent in the world and has a chance to be a massive draft steal for the Chiefs. If his knee is healthy, and the team requires his services later in the season, they will likely not hesitate to throw him into the fire.
