The Kansas City Chiefs may have landed a long-term solution at left tackle with the final pick of the first round in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting Ohio State standout Josh Simmons.
Despite a knee injury that limited his college playing time last season, the Chiefs’ front office saw enough in Simmons’ potential to take a calculated risk, and they’re not alone in that belief.
Josh Simmons injury didn’t scare off Chiefs
Former All-Pro center Jason Kelce added fuel to the growing optimism during a recent episode of his New Heights podcast.
The longtime Philadelphia Eagles lineman offered high praise for Simmons, labeling the selection as one of the draft’s most underappreciated gems.
“I absolutely love this guy on tape,”Kelce said.
“The way he moves reminds me a lot of some high-level players, the way he bends, plays with his ass low to the ground. His arms are listed at only 33 inches, but it feels like he’s got much greater length than that. He’s big, he’s strong, he moves people, and he’s an outstanding pass blocker.”
Simmons’ draft stock took a hit after he suffered a torn patellar tendon in 2024, limiting him to just six games for the Buckeyes.
But the Chiefs, impressed by his early-season tape and encouraged by extensive medical evaluations, believed the upside was too great to pass up at No. 32.
“This pick, and the Eagles’ first-round picks, were two of the biggest steals in the draft. I’m not just saying that because they’re both our teams,”Kelce added.
NFL insiders like Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer echoed the sentiment, noting that Kansas City might’ve landed a future cornerstone for its offensive line.
Breer pointed to Simmons’ landing spot as “exactly the right place to fulfill his considerable potential,” especially considering the Chiefs’ recent struggles protecting Patrick Mahomes in key games.
Kansas City isn’t rushing Simmons back into action.
With veteran Jaylon Moore signed in free agency to man the position in the short term, the Chiefs have created a scenario where Simmons can fully recover without pressure to start immediately.
That long-view approach may pay off handsomely if Simmons returns to form.
In the wake of two Super Bowl losses where offensive line play was a concern, Kansas City’s investment in Simmons signals a renewed commitment to protecting their franchise quarterback, and Jason Kelce believes they may have struck gold.
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