Earlier this week, one of the lead NFL draft analysts, Daniel Jeremiah, put out his latest 2025 first-round mock draft.
In this mock, he has the Chiefs staying at pick No. 31 and making a significant addition that he mentions can help their offense for years to come. Jeremiah has the Chiefs selecting Josh Simmons, an offensive tackle out of Ohio State and my second-ranked offensive tackle in this year’s draft. I recently mentioned Simmons in an article about trade-up targets for the Chiefs in the 2025 NFL Draft and he would be a great pick-up for the Chiefs if he’s available at 31.
Why Adding an Offensive Tackle is the Right Move for the Chiefs at No. 31
I have said it before, and I’ll say it again, building the offensive line, especially offensive tackle, is one of the hardest things to do in the NFL. Tackle has one of the lowest hit rates in the draft, and it is very difficult to find quality tackle talent outside of the first round. The Chiefs have had a revolving door at tackle for the last several seasons, and despite their success, they have struggled to find the answer to the outside of the offensive line.
This offseason, the Chiefs dished out a significant two-year $15 million deal to Jaylon Moore and has Jawaan Taylor on a significant contract (four years at $80 million) on the other side. But despite the financial commitment, I have advocated that the Chiefs should look to add an offensive tackle if the right one is available when they are on the board at 31. If the Chiefs' starting tackles struggle in 2025, their contracts allow for the team to move on from them in 2026 if they have to.
I like to tell fans to take a look at what the Jets did this season with Olu Fashanu. Despite having Morgan Moses and Tyron Smith locked into the starter spots at offensive tackle, the team still added Fashanu early in the first round. The Jets tackles had injuries and Fashanu looked good enough for the Jets to give him a starting job this upcoming season. If the Chiefs can add a quality tackle at 31, they can provide depth and develop for a year behind Moore and Taylor, potentially replacing them in the future.
Why Josh Simmons is the Perfect Fit for the Chiefs
In my opinion, Simmons ranks as my second-best offensive tackle but is the guy who I think is the most ready to play in the NFL early in his career. He’s maybe the best pass protector in the class and has experience playing both left and right tackle in his college career. It’s possible Simmons could win a job in camp, but more likely he would sit to start the year and could develop into the player Andy Reid and Andy Heck are looking for on the offensive line.
Simmons has elite footwork and lateral movement skills that allow him to kick out on faster edge rushers and he doesn’t get beat by speed often. Simmons is not a great run blocker but is more than serviceable as a zone blocker on the edge to hold gaps. But in the Chiefs' pass-heavy scheme under Andy Reid, Simmons would make a huge impact in the Chiefs offense and could really open the playbook up by giving Mahomes more time to throw.
As I said before, it is very hard to find good offensive tackles and while the Chiefs hope to have found a starter on the blindside, fans should not be upset if they double down. Jawaan Taylor has struggled immensely with penalties, and Moore has limited experience as a starter, and both have the potential to disappoint in 2025.
With Kingsley Suamataia likely moving to guard, and Wanya Morris struggling on the outside the past few seasons, the Chiefs need insurance on the line. Adding someone like Simmons would ensure the protection of Mahomes regardless of struggles or injuries next season and beyond and should be the top option for the Chiefs if he's available at 31 in the draft this April.