Josh Simmons is a Chief (YES!). Now what?
Sifting through the plan for 2025 and beyond for Kansas City's tackle spot
If you’re a subscriber to this substack, you didn’t have to guess my reaction last night when the Chiefs drafted Josh Simmons in the first round. The short story was a resounding “YES!”
I reviewed Simmons’ film the day before the draft. If you haven’t read that piece, you should do so immediately before reading what I have to say today. Here’s the short story for those of you who already read it and want a refresher:
He was absolutely dominant in the 2024 games I reviewed, and showed the traits to be a high-level pass and run blocker. He’s got elite talent and harnesses it well, and the tape he showed is that of a player who would be a top 10 pick easily if health weren’t an issue…
That said, the injury is the only reason the Chiefs even have a prayer of drafting Simmons. My guess is some team will risk it in the top 20. If they don’t, I would be absolutely thrilled for the Chiefs to take that risk. A LT of his caliber would never even be on the table for them in the draft in any other scenario, and when you get a chance at that level of ability at that tough a position to fill, you take it. Even if it means moving Jaylen Moore next year or whatever else they’d have to do.
Simmons’ ability as a tackle (he played RT for a time before switching to LT) is basically uncontested in the draft. He was
’s favorite tackle prospect, which means a great deal to me (Jon Ledyard loves him as well, as do multiple other film guys whose opinions I respect). His pressure rate allowed was exceptional in 2023 and borderline unbelievable in 2024. He was the only tackle to not have a single “blown” block in all of 2023 and 2024 per Sports Info Solutions data tracking.In other words, Simmons is a LT whose size, film, and analytics all placed him as an elite prospect. The only reason he fell was due to his torn patella tendon and some mystifyingly vague “maturity/character concerns” that didn’t come up until right before the draft. Chiefs’ GM Brett Veach and HC Andy Reid had a LOT to say about the knee, which the Chiefs (from what they’re saying) did a ton of due diligence on before making the pick. Here are a few of their quotes from last night:
Veach
“We were saying early on this is a really good surgery and the knee looks really good. He was well ahead of where he should be at that stage. There’s strong belief from Rick (Burkholder) that he’ll be good for training camp.”
"We did a ton of work on Josh. We got a chance to meet Josh at the formal at the combine. Brought him in for the 30 visit and did some extra work on the knee. We did a zoom with him just yesterday. . . When he's healthy and the tape he had before the injury, it puts him in the upper echelon of what he could be in a future starter at left tackle"
“Pat Mahomes is your quarterback you can never have enough of those guys (tackles). We have Jaylen but he has to stay healthy all year. Talent is there and should be a fascinating battle. We have him for 5 years and tackles are hard to find”
Reid
“He would have been a higher pick if he didn’t get hurt.”
"Rick Burkholder has done a bunch of work on him. 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."
“He’ll definitely be ready for training camp. But he’ll be able to do other things before then”
Do you see a theme there by any chance? I see several. The first is that both Veach and Reid agree that Simmons is a high-level prospect at a high-level position, one that would not normally be available anywhere near where the Chiefs take (which is accurate based on everything we know about the draft). The second is that the Chiefs, based on their homework and their trust in their medical staff, believe that Simmons’ recovery is going well and that he’ll be ready for the 2025 season.
That’s all good news. The even better news? The Chiefs, thanks to a one-spot trade down with the Eagles, were able to snag an extra 5th round pick in the process in a year they need every draft pick they can get.
If Simmons is actually able to go in 2025 it will be a major coup for the Chiefs, as his exceptionally springy first step and lateral movement (to go along with good upper body power) makes him a weapon in both the pass and run game. That first step is a sight to behold, and gives him an immediate advantage when on an island as a pass blocker OR a run blocker.
I could show you snap after snap of Simmons looking dominant as both a pass blocker and a run blocker on the back of his physical ability paired with solid technique, as well as snaps of him getting out into space and otherwise doing all the things Reid loves to see out of his left tackle. But again, you can just read the film review I’ve previously written. And there isn’t a lot of question about Simmons’ ability as a player. Seriously, his pass pro reps are insane to watch. The number of times he was left on an island was terrific to see.
The question that some Chiefs fans are asking today, though, is “now what?”