Kansas City Chiefs rookie and first-round pick Josh Simmons is reportedly giving one of the team’s most expensive players a run for his money in OTAs.
The Chiefs revamped their offensive line following the humiliating 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59. They traded All-Pro guard Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears and signed former San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Jaylon Moore to a two-year deal worth $30 million.
To cap it off, the Chiefs used their 2025 first-round pick (No. 32 overall) on Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons. The plan was for Moore to be the starting left tackle, with Simmons backing him up.
But according to a prominent Chiefs insider, Arrowhead Pride’s Pete Sweeney, Simmons has turned heads with his strong performance in OTAs:
“For a long time, many of us assumed Moore would be the Day 1 starter at left tackle as Simmons builds strength. But for at least a day, you could actually argue Simmons looked healthier than Moore.
The battle at left tackle (and maybe by extension, right tackle) just got a bit more interesting.”
With three straight Super Bowl appearances and two Super Bowls in their back pockets, the Chiefs don’t have many starting position battles this summer. But going by Sweeney’s report, it appears Moore vs. Simmons for the starting LT spot is suddenly a competition to monitor.
The Chiefs’ offensive line was a strength for most of 2024, but the unit unraveled in the stunning blowout loss to Philly. Mahomes was sacked six times and lost a fumble in the 18-point defeat, prompting GM Brett Veach to make significant changes to the pass protection up front.
Josh Simmons Enters A Great Situation In Kansas City
Most offensive linemen struggle aplenty as rookies, but the Chiefs have been an exception here. Center Creed Humphrey and guard Trey Smith have been elite linemen since entering the NFL as rookies, so nobody should bet against Simmons immediately emerging as a valuable day-one starter.
