The Kansas City Chiefs took a chance on Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons with the final first-round pick on Thursday.
After trading down one spot with the Philadelphia Eagles, who ruthlessly exposed a ragged offensive line in the Super Bowl triumph, general manager Brett Veach may have found a gem.
GettySimmons is looking to protect the NFL’s best quarterback in 2025[/caption]Quarterback Patrick Mahomes certainly approved of the pick, simply posting a face wearing sunglasses emoji on his X account.
After being run ragged by the Eagles in New Orleans, he will hope Simmons can finally fix the problem spot that 2024 second-rounder Kingsley Suamataia struggled in last season.
Wide receiver Rashee Rice shared the Chiefs‘ Instagram post celebrating the selection on his stories and is clearly also excited about the new addition in the trenches.
Simmons gave up zero sacks and just one pressure last season before suffering a torn patella tendon in October.
That blow saw the 6ft 5in, 317lb blocker tumble from a potential top-15 pick until the end of day one.
“I think everyone knows that when he’s healthy and with the tape he had early on last year before the injury, it puts him in the upper echelon of what he could be as a future starter and difference-maker at left tackle,” said Veach. “Had it not been for that injury, he’s probably not there.”
NFL analysts were also impressed with the pick and think the rest of the league may have gifted the perennial contenders a massive advantage.
“If you can get this guy, and he can show what he showed on tape, this might be one of the steals of the draft,” Justin Pugh — a 10-year guard in the NFL — told the Clean Pocket podcast.
“He is the best offensive tackle in this class when healthy,” CBS Sports analyst Pete Prisco added. “That’s the key.
“He’s coming off a torn patella tendon suffered last year against Oregon.
Mahomes was put under too much pressure in 2024Getty Reid is confident that he has finally found his left tackleGetty Rashee Rice reposted the Chiefs welcoming their ‘newest protector’Instagram@doub11e_rView Tweet: twitter.com/PatrickMahomes/status/1915609374199894055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“But boy I’ll tell you what, they won’t be forced to rush him. They have a guy they can play in left tackle in Jaylon Moore.
“So he can be patient and he can get him ready for the following season if need be.”
NFL.com draft guru Daniel Jeremiah was bullish on the prospect, insisting: “What he put on tape this fall should generate plenty of optimism about his chances of becoming a quality starting left tackle in the NFL.”
While ESPN’s Matt Miller picked out the lineman as a potential steal before the show got going in Green Bay, insisting: “Simmons is one of my favorite tackle prospects and would have been in play for OT1 before the injury.”
Simmons’ injury was reportedly not seen as an issue by other teams, who instead raised concerns over his character.
“Several team agree: Josh Simmons had best tape of any OT last year,” noted ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “And they aren’t concerned with recovery on the torn patella tendon.
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“More concern is maturity/character. But he’s going to the ideal, veteran-laden place.”
The Chiefs took a punt on a tight end with reported character issues in the 2013 Draft and it worked out just fine with Travis Kelce heading for the Hall of Fame.
Simmons will have everything he needs to thrive and the 22-year-old fills the biggest needs in Kansas City.
“[Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance] Rick Burkholder has done a bunch of work on him,” said Reid. “He’s in a good place.
“It’s healed well “He’s gone through all the re-checks, and we’ll just see where it goes from there.”
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