Arrowhead Pride
The Chiefs won’t need their left tackle right away in 2025. What should their plan be for him moving forward?
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 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.
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.
One such area is his ability to...
