{"id":115663,"date":"2025-06-09T08:59:31","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T08:59:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/115663\/"},"modified":"2025-06-09T08:59:31","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T08:59:31","slug":"rising-kansas-city-chiefs-rookie-turning-heads-in-2025-otas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/115663\/","title":{"rendered":"Rising Kansas City Chiefs rookie turning heads in 2025 OTAs"},"content":{"rendered":"

The post Rising Kansas City Chiefs rookie turning heads in 2025 OTAs<\/a> appeared first on ClutchPoints<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Despite their most recent Super Bowl loss, the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> have become synonymous with excellence, consistency, and smart roster management<\/a> over the past several years. That\u2019s why anytime a rookie starts generating buzz during Organized Team Activities (OTAs), fans take notice. In 2025, one first-round draft pick \u2014 Josh Simmons \u2014 is quietly turning heads. Even while being limited due to injury, Simmons is drawing praise for his professionalism and maturity. That sets him up as a key piece for the Chiefs\u2019 offensive line future.<\/p>\n

Calculated Offseason Moves<\/p>\n

Coming off another deep playoff run, Kansas City entered the 2025 offseason knowing that roster tweaks \u2014 not overhauls \u2014 would be necessary to stay ahead of the competition. However, some of those tweaks involved significant risks.<\/p>\n

\"Mandatory<\/p>\n

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The biggest headline came with the trade of Pro Bowl guard Joe Thuney. Trading away a proven anchor on the line<\/a> is never easy. This is especially true when his departure leaves a void in protection for franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs are gambling that Kingsley Suamataia can transition to guard and perform at a higher level<\/a>. If he can\u2019t, that interior line could quickly become an area of concern.<\/p>\n

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Meanwhile, Kansas City handed out a contract to free agent tackle Jaylon Moore. Many fell that signing was an overpay given his inconsistent track record. The Chiefs are hoping Moore can stabilize one tackle spot while their first-round pick, Josh Simmons, works his way back to full health. Simmons is expected to eventually take over at left tackle, but for now, patience will be key<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Kansas City made sure to keep several vital pieces in place. They retained both Trey Smith and linebacker Nick Bolton. At wide receiver, getting Rashee Rice back will provide a significant boost. Rice showed flashes of becoming Mahomes\u2019 go-to target in critical moments last season. His return stabilizes a group that is otherwise thin on proven production.<\/p>\n

Here we\u2019ll try to look at the Kansas City Chiefs rookie player whose stock is rising and turning heads in 2025 OTAs.<\/p>\n

Rising Stock Despite Early Adversity<\/p>\n

The life of an NFL rookie is difficult under any circumstances. However, Simmons entered his professional journey facing an even steeper hill to climb. The former Ohio State standout suffered a torn patellar tendon during the 2024 college football season. That serious injury not only cut short his final season. It also caused him to slide down many draft boards.<\/p>\n

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Kansas City, however, saw the opportunity to pounce. With Simmons falling into the latter part of the first round, the Chiefs executed a draft-day trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. The calculated move allowed Kansas City to land a player who may have been a top-15 pick had he been fully healthy entering the draft.<\/p>\n

Despite being limited in OTAs as he continues his rehab, Simmons is making the most of every opportunity. His work ethic and attention to detail have been a constant topic of conversation among Chiefs coaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve really been impressed with his professionalism since he\u2019s been in this building,\u201d said offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. \u201cHe\u2019s really locked in, he\u2019s doing everything he can do up to what he\u2019s allowed to do with the injury. So that\u2019s all he can do. He\u2019s got a great group of guys on that O-line, coach [Andy] Heck and Coach [Matt] Matthaei teaching them. He\u2019s in a great spot, and I think we just got to keep him going arrow up, but man, his film is really good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even head coach Andy Reid, typically reserved in his evaluations, offered optimism about Simmons\u2019 progress.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHe\u2019s further ahead than I thought he was,\u201d Reid said after the Chiefs\u2019 first week of OTAs. \u201cWe\u2019ve kept him out of the team stuff. He\u2019s done a good job with what we\u2019ve given him. We\u2019ve just got to get him in where he\u2019s going against a defense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mental Approach Makes the Difference<\/p>\n

For young players, staying engaged during rehab can often be more challenging than the physical recovery itself. Simmons has demonstrated a level of maturity that suggests he understands the bigger picture.<\/p>\n

His film study has reportedly been exemplary. Sure, he hasn\u2019t been able to take live reps against defenders. However, Simmons has immersed himself in the playbook, dissecting protections, learning tendencies, and preparing mentally for the moment when he\u2019s finally cleared for full participation.<\/p>\n

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The Chiefs coaching staff has long emphasized that success along the offensive line starts well before the ball is snapped. Understanding defensive fronts, recognizing blitz packages, and anticipating shifts are all critical for a tackle protecting the league\u2019s most valuable player in Mahomes. Simmons is already ahead of schedule in these areas. This bodes well for a smoother on-field transition once physically ready.<\/p>\n

The Chiefs Know This Road<\/p>\n

Kansas City\u2019s confidence in Simmons\u2019 recovery isn\u2019t based on blind hope. The organization has walked this path before, most notably with guard Trey Smith. Coming out of Tennessee, Smith fell in the draft due to concerns over blood clots. However, Kansas City\u2019s medical staff and development system helped turn him into one of the NFL\u2019s best young guards.<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Adam Cairns\/Columbus Dispatch \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The Chiefs are betting they can repeat that process with Simmons. The key difference is position. Protecting Mahomes\u2019 blindside is arguably the second-most important job on the roster behind Mahomes himself. That said, with Simmons\u2019 natural talent and mental discipline, the Chiefs have every reason to believe he will eventually become a cornerstone at left tackle.<\/p>\n

The Long Game in Kansas City<\/p>\n

For now, patience remains the operative word. The Chiefs are not rushing Simmons back onto the field. Instead, they\u2019re taking a cautious approach to ensure he\u2019s fully healthy and mentally sharp when he takes his first live snaps.<\/p>\n

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As the 2025 season progresses, don\u2019t be surprised if Simmons eventually works his way into the starting lineup \u2014 either late in the year or as a major factor heading into 2026. For a franchise that\u2019s always thinking two steps ahead, Josh Simmons may soon become yet another shrewd piece in Kansas City\u2019s ongoing championship puzzle.<\/p>\n

Related: Former 49ers, Chiefs wide receiver makes retirement decision<\/a><\/p>\n

Related: Chiefs\u2019 Patrick Mahomes gushes over Texas Tech\u2019s NiJaree Canady amid WCWS<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The post Rising Kansas City Chiefs rookie turning heads in 2025 OTAs appeared first on ClutchPoints. Despite their…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":115664,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2063],"tags":[346,7,3503,1814,1488,118,110,2438,2437,1730,6,2887,4266,499,109,4000,526,1216],"class_list":{"0":"post-115663","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-kansas-city-chiefs","8":"tag-chiefs","9":"tag-football","10":"tag-jaylon-moore","11":"tag-joe-thuney","12":"tag-josh-simmons","13":"tag-kansas-city","14":"tag-kansas-city-chiefs","15":"tag-kansascity","16":"tag-kansascitychiefs","17":"tag-kingsley-suamataia","18":"tag-nfl","19":"tag-nick-bolton","20":"tag-organized-team-activities","21":"tag-patrick-mahomes","22":"tag-philadelphia-eagles","23":"tag-rashee-rice","24":"tag-tennessee","25":"tag-trey-smith"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/114652588543223935","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=115663"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115663\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/115664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=115663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=115663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=115663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}