Chiefs know Josh Simmons can change everything if he stays healthy

Going into the 2025 NFL Draft, Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons was the number seven overall player on my draft board. So you can imagine my excitement as both a draft analyst and a Chiefs fan when I saw the Kansas City Chiefs ready to pick at 32 with him still on the board. Now, almost a year later, Simmons has shown he can be one of the most talented left tackles in the league, but many of the same questions scouts had on draft day still exist.

The issue most analysts had with Simmons surrounded his season-ending knee injury, which he suffered after just six games with the Buckeyes in 2024. Simmons played two seasons with OSU, starting at left tackle for 19 games before he suffered a torn patellar tendon in October 2024. A torn patellar tendon is a major injury, especially for an offensive lineman, and Simmons was not able to do any pre-draft athletic testing.

Many analysts (including myself) had Simmons graded as the best pass-blocking tackle in the 2025 draft, but uncertainty about his recovery caused him to slip. Not being able to see a player test following a major injury generated a lot of uncertainty and scared off many scouts from grading Simmons in the first round. But in Kansas City, Simmons looked 100 percent almost every time he was on the field, and the concerns about his knee quickly went out the window.

But despite his knee looking strong, Simmons still struggled to stay on the field in 2025. A personal issue kept Simmons away from the team for four games, and then he missed the final five games of the season with a dislocated and fractured wrist. Now, as we head into the 2026 season, the concerns about Simmons remain the same, with the focus being on his availability.

The 2026 season feels pivotal for Simmons, who clearly has all the ability to be a top-tier NFL tackle, but none of it matters if he is not on the field. Now, it would not be fair to comment on Simmons' personal issues he struggled with earlier in the season, and all we can do is hope that everything is resolved and he is doing well. But as far as his physical health, keeping Simmons as close to 100 percent as possible feels like it will be a major determinant in the Chiefs' path to success in 2026.

The most recent injury to Simmons does not appear to be a long-term issue, and the expectation is that he will not be affected by it long-term. With Simmons at full strength, the Chiefs will roll out one of the NFL's best offensive lines, featuring (from left to right) Simmons, Kingsley Suamataia, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, and Jaylon Moore. But the depth behind that front five is questionable, and the Chiefs cannot afford to suffer many losses up front.

Behind Simmons is Esa Pole, a UDFA rookie last season who stepped up after Jaylon Moore also suffered an injury late in the 2025 season. Pole had a fourth-round grade on my board in last year's class and projects as a high-value backup, but he is still young, and that inexperience showed at times last season. Pole also may compete for the starting right tackle job with Jaylon Moore, but regardless, right tackle is the weakest spot on the Chiefs' OL, and an injury to Simmons on the opposite side would be substantial.

The reality is, when healthy, Simmons very well may be one of the five best left tackles in football. The 2025 class had five offensive tackles taken in the first round, and when healthy, Simmons was likely the best of the bunch.

As a pass protector, he is elite, which is immensely valuable in Andy Reid's offense, which heavily relies on the passing game for success. As a run blocker, Simmons has above-average power, but his claim to fame is his quickness and ability to get to the second level. This is something the Chiefs love, both in the run game and the pass game, where Reid loves to use quick screen passes to get his best playmakers out in space with blockers in front.

All in all, Simmons has already proven he can be one of the best offensive tackles in football. He has all the skills, and when he is healthy, he makes a substantial impact on the Chiefs' offense. But none of it matters if he is not on the field, and that will be a major point of emphasis this season as the Chiefs look to return to the playoffs (and ultimately the Super Bowl) this season.