The experts at Pro Football Network gave the Kansas City Chiefs an A+ grade for their selection of Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Josh Simmons with the No. 32 pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night.
Kansas City traded back from the No. 31 selection with the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire the No. 32 pick in Round 1 and No. 164 in Round 5.
Check out what PFN’s NFL Draft analyst Ian Cummings had to say about Chiefs general manager Brett Veach’s decision to pick up Simmons after Kansas City’s surprise trade with the Eagles:
“The Chiefs have always excelled at playing the board, and that’s no different this year. After moving back a spot and adding a mid-Day 3 pick, the Chiefs added a top-20 talent at offensive tackle in Josh Simmons. Simmons will presumably replace Jaylon Moore at left tackle, shoring up the Chiefs’ line for the long-term.
At 6’5”, 317 pounds, there’s a case to be made that Simmons is the best athlete in the OT class. His space blocking is a sight to behold on tape, and his range at the second level is rivaled only by his hyperactive matching athleticism and elite flexibility, both on recovery and in power absorption.
On top of his athletic gifts, Simmons’ technical tape in 2024 was incredibly clean before a torn patellar tendon ended his season prematurely. But the Chiefs’ selection reaffirms his clean bill of health moving forward, and he has the upside to be a high-level starter in time. Patrick Mahomes will be much more comfortable in the pocket, and that’s a scary thought.
Grade: A+“
Given that Simmons has been viewed as one of the top offensive linemen in the 2025 draft class for months, it should come as no surprise that Veach and Kansas City’s front office earned high marks for their acquisition of such a valuable prospect.
#Chiefs #grade #making #savvy #pick #NFL #draft