Chiefs Select Offensive Tackle in the First Round
The NFL Draft for the 2025 season is finally upon us! The first round saw everything from exactly what analysts and fans expected for weeks, like Cameron Ward going first overall to the Titans, to shocking moves that shook up everyone watching, like the massive pick swap between Jacksonville and Cleveland, sending Travis Hunter to Duval. All the franchises of the league hoped to make the right moves and select the right athletes to bring their team success in the upcoming season and even further beyond. One of those franchises was the Kansas City Chiefs, who looked to make a move that would set them up for success and shake the failure at Super Bowl LIX from their minds.
As soon as they were on the clock, the Chiefs swapped picks with the Philadelphia Eagles, moving back one spot. With the 32nd pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Josh Simmons, an Offensive Tackle from Ohio State. Simmons put up elite production during his time at Ohio State, but injuries and questions about his health and recovery caused his draft stock to drop from a projected top-10 pick. If the outstanding lineman can get healthy and produce at the level of his peak in college, the Chiefs will have gotten away with an absolute steal in the last pick of the first round. The question is, will the Chiefs look to insert him as an immediate impact player, or will they ease Simmons into the rotation? Whatever path they take, overhauling the tackle position was a key focus of the Chief's front office, seeking to keep the sports dynasty of the 2020s rolling onward to more success.
Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has become renowned league-wide for his savvy personnel decisions and has proven time and time again that he knows how to hit on a draft pick. Fans of the Chiefs hope that Simmons will continue the Chief's recent history of great selections in the first round. Last year’s first-round pick for the Chiefs, wide receiver Xavier Worthy, immediately established himself as a prime playmaker for the offense under quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Worthy led the team in receiving touchdowns and came just behind Chiefs legend Travis Kelce in receiving yards.
