The Kansas City Chiefs bolstered their offensive line on Thursday night by selecting offensive tackle Josh Simmons with the No. 32 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Here are five things to know about the newest member of the offense.
1. Simmons was likely going to be a top-15 selection had it not been for a knee injury he suffered in mid-October.
Widely regarded as one of the top offensive tackles in all of college football heading into the 2024 season, Simmons was considered a contender to be the first tackle selected in the 2025 NFL Draft before a knee injury ended his season early.
The injury caused Simmons to slide to the end of the first round, and when provided with the opportunity to select him, the Chiefs didn’t hesitate.
“I think everyone knows that when he’s healthy and with the tape he had early on last year before the injury, it puts him in the upper echelon of what he could be as a future starter and difference-maker at left tackle,” said General Manager Brett Veach. “Had it not been for that injury, he’s probably not there.”
The decision to select Simmons took place after months of careful research and checkups into his rehab progress. Head Coach Andy Reid spoke about Simmons’ status on Thursday night, adding that he expects Simmons to be ready for training camp.
“[Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance] Rick Burkholder has done a bunch of work on him. He’s in a good place…It’s healed well,” said Head Coach Andy Reid. “He’s gone through all the re-checks, and we’ll just see where it goes from there.”