ESPN's Field Yates, Mel Kiper Jr. name perfect fit for Josh Simmons in 2025 NFL Draft

ESPN’s Field Yates has Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons heading to the San Francisco 49ers with the No. 11 overall selection in his latest mock draft. 

It’s a fascinating selection, as the 49ers already have future Hall of Famer Trent Williams at the position. However, with his future in the NFL murky beyond 2025, Mel Kiper Jr. believes it could be a steal of a selection for San Francisco, if it comes to fruition.

“We talked about the left tackle spot. You’re the heir apparent to Trent Williams. A player that the 49ers are sitting there at No. 11, ‘Let’s get a guy that we would never usually see there in the late first round.’ He’s there at No. 11. Could’ve gone No. 5, No. 6 if he’d been healthy all year, but he gets hurt against Oregon in October, and now he’s available,” Kiper explained, via ESPN First Draft.

“So, the medical at the Combine is going to be really important for a lot of players this year, probably more so this year than ever before, where so many you know guys in our Top 25, or were in a Top 25 at some point, are medical question marks, ‘Are they going to be ready for next year?’ Josh Simmons is one of those guys. But it makes so much sense that it probably won’t happen. It’s one of those things. It looks great. It makes sense for the 49ers. We’ll see. Maybe it will, maybe won’t. But I have no issue with this pick whatsoever.

“Josh Simmons, as a left tackle, was well on his way this year to becoming maybe the third, fourth, fifth pick in the draft. But he didn’t finish out the year. He had cleaned up all the issues with penalties. He had developed into an elite left tackle. Probably ahead of Will Campbell had he been healthy, but he’s not, and when’s he going to be ready? We’ll see. But yeah, for the 49ers? Makes perfect sense.”

As Kiper explained, it makes a ton of sense for Simmons to head to the 49ers come April. Yates even pointed out how it’s a unique position the franchise finds itself in, as they’re ready to come in the NFC, but their disastrous 2024 has them near the top ten of the NFL Draft. They can afford to wait for Simmons to develop for a season.

“They’re the rare team that is picking this high who also can afford to wait on a player,” Yates added. “If you’re the Chicago Bears or the New England Patriots up even higher, all the way at pick No. 4, and you need reinforcements right away. You’re dealing with a guy who got hurt in mid-October of this past year.

“Like, we have seen a lot of players who are expected to be ready for the start of training camp — heck, last year, Jonathon Brooks was supposed to be ready for the start of training camp. We didn’t see Jonathon Brooks until like, November of this regular season. Unfortunately, Jonathon Brooks did re-tear that ACL. Might miss all of next season. The point is, the 49ers have an insurance policy for Josh Simmons, who would also be an incredible tutor.

“If Trent Williams only has one more year left, who better to learn from than a future first ballot Hall of Famer? Trent Williams for Josh Simmons. A team that definitely has its eyes on getting back into the playoffs in a major way next season.”

All told, whichever team ends up with Josh Simmons will be elated, especially after his improvement over the past few seasons. Whether he has to play immediately or wait in the wings, there’s a team that will find the best way to utilize the Ohio State offensive lineman in the NFL when the time comes, and Field Yates believes it’s the 49ers at the moment.