Patrick Mahomes’ safety is Andy Reid’s priority. With the 2025 NFL Draft fast approaching, the head coach could be setting his sights on bolstering the offensive line that gave them so many problems last year by drafting one of the best OTs in the Class of 2025, even if he has to negotiate a serious upgrade.
Everyone remembers the Chiefs’ offensive line’s embarrassing performance in Super Bowl LIX when they allowed six sacks. It’s also worth remembering that they allowed 41 sacks in the regular season, costing them 266 yards.
Reid did everything he could to patch up the left side of his OL. He tried rookie Kingsley Sumataia, veteran D.J. Humphries, and Wanya Morris, and even made guard Joe Thuney available at left tackle, to no avail. Against this backdrop, experts believe the Chiefs will go all out for the best offensive tackle this draft has to offer, Josh Simmons.
What will the Chiefs do to land Simmons?
In their most recent mock drafts, NFL.com analysts Mike Band and Daniel Jeremiah predicted Kansas City would select Simmons in the first round. Jeremiah noted that the Chiefs had already signedJaylon Moore for that position, but “building quality depth up front would seem like a wise move based on the issues they dealt with last season,” he explained.
Band went even further. The expert predicted the Chiefs will make a risky move, trading with the Minnesota Vikings to jump from their current 31st pick to 24th, “moving ahead of an expected OL run between picks 25 and 29.”
He recalled that the last time the Chiefs finished a season without a championship, they made a similar move to select cornerback Trent McDuffie. Band didn’t detail what the Chiefs would give up to secure a seven-spot jump, but the possibility remains intriguing.
Who is Josh Simmons?
Hailing from Ohio State, Simmons is one of the best offensive tackles in the Class of 2025. At 6-foot-5 and 317 pounds, the former Buckeye is among this year’s largest players, but his 33-inch arm length puts him below the average of 34 inches for NFL OTs.
Analysts describe him as “a consistently fluid mover both inside the box and when asked to play in space,” but also note that he is prone to injuries, such as the knee injury that ended his season in mid-October.
Reid and general manager Brett Veach are known for taking calculated risks. If they indeed see Simmons as the ideal man to protect Mahomes off the board or as a future franchise tackle, there’s no doubt they’ll do everything they can to snatch him up.
Read the full article here
