Sportsnaut
The Kansas City Chiefs made significant changes to their offensive line this offseason, investing premium draft capital and cap space to find long-term fixes at offensive tackle and guard. It now appears that some of those changes will be implemented sooner than expected.
ESPN‘s Adam Teicher writes that the Chiefs intend for first-round pick Josh Simmons to start at left tackle in Week 1 as long as he receives the medical clearance to practice this summer. It would push free-agent signing Jaylon Moore off the spot many presumed he would hold heading into the regular season.
Related: Xavier Worthy could play new role for Kansas City Chiefs in 2025
Many viewed Simmons as a potential top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft before he suffered a torn patellar tendon in October 2024. While it wasn’t a career-threatening injury by any means, a torn patellar tendon for big-bodied players usually comes with a more challenging recovery than an ACL tear.
It positioned Moore, who signed a two-year deal worth $30 million, to be the Chiefs’ left tackle in Week 1. Kansas City could ease its first-round pick into action, making sure he fully recovered and was then able to adjust to the speeds of the NFL before becoming a full-time starter.
Also Read: Best NFL coaches 2025, see where Chiefs’ Andy Reid lands
Instead, based on Teicher’s reporting, it appears that Simmons will be the starting left tackle in the regular-season opener as long as he looks healthy and holds up in training camp. If that comes to fruition, the focus shifts to right tackle.
Since signing a four-year $80 million contract with the team in 2023, Jawaan Taylor has started in 33 games over the last two seasons for Kansas City. However, penalties have been a significant problem and he struggled during the Super Bowl. The prior belief was that he would play out the third year of his contract and then become a cap casualty in 2026, giving the Chiefs $20 million in cap space next offseason.
Related: NFL power rankings 2025, see where the Kansas City Chiefs placed
If Simmons is healthy and starts at left tackle, the offseason signing of Moore would suggest that he would be the team’s right tackle in 2025. Whether it’s Moore or Taylor at right tackle, Kansas City will have a backup offensive lineman making $15-plus million this season.
More must-reads:
