Kansas City Chiefs select Josh Simmons in 1st round of 2025 NFL Draft

The Kansas City Chiefs have selected former Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Simmons had one more season of eligibility to play at Ohio State, but chose to turn pro instead. Now, he’s on his way to the NFL.

Simmons suffered a season-ending knee injury in October during the regular season matchup against Oregon. He had to be carted off the field at the time, and was forced to undergo surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his left knee.

He ultimately played less than two full seasons for the Buckeyes, appearing in 19 games including all 13 in 2023. Simmons started all six apperances in 2024 at left tackle for the eventual national champions. Despite only playing in less than half of the season, he earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Conference honors at the end of the year.

Before arriving in Columbus, Simmons spent two seasons at San Diego State. He redshirted as a true freshman, but went on to start in all 13 of the Aztecs’ games the following season before transferring to Ohio State the following offseason.

As a member of the Class of 2021, Simmons was a three-star recruit out of La Mesa (Calif.) Helix, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 36 overall prospect in the state, the No. 26 interior offensive lineman in the class and the No. 445 overall prospect in the class.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Josh Simmons

Now that Josh Simmons has been drafted, fans may be wondering what to expect from their new offensive tackle. NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein provided his analysis of the standout lineman.

Zierlein: “An athletic tackle prospect with adequate size and length, Simmons has experience starting on both sides. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in mid-October, so his recovery and timetable for return will need to be vetted.

“He’s a consistently fluid mover both inside the box and when asked to play in space, and he has the slide quickness to compete against NFL edge speed. He’s more positional than powerful in completing his run-blocking tasks, but he can fit into all schemes.

“Improved hand placement and latch-in strength can help better control opponents in both the run and pass games. Simmons can still be susceptible to twists and counters in pass pro, so he might need a year to continue honing his craft in that area before he is ready to take on NFL pocket hunters.”