The Kansas City Chiefs are heading into the 2025 season with a bold move: placing their franchise quarterback’s blindside in the hands of a rookie.Josh Simmons, the No. 32 overall pick in this year’s draft, has quickly climbed the depth chart and is now penciled in as Patrick Mahomes’ starting left tackle.

At Ohio State, Simmons flashed athleticism and size but was also viewed as a raw prospect. The Chiefs saw something more. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, Kansas City coaches have been impressed with Simmons’ rapid progress in camp-enough that he’s earned their trust in one of the most critical roles on the roster.

Graziano reported that Simmons has a knack for recovering mid-play when initially beaten, a trait coaches love. He’s also been consistent in not repeating mistakes, a promising sign for a player expected to learn on the fly against NFL-caliber pass rushers.

A Rookie’s Rise at Training Camp

Simmons didn’t just survive his first NFL camp-he thrived. Head coach Andy Reid praised his work ethic, calling him “a worker, and he’s willing to do it,” while offensive coordinator Matt Nagy pointed to Simmons’ communication with left guard Kingsley Suamataia as a reason the unit has gelled quicker than expected.

This new pairing is the centerpiece of Kansas City’s offensive line overhaul, prompted by last season’s playoff collapse. In Super Bowl 59, the Chiefs were exposed after moving veteran Joe Thuney to tackle, and the Eagles racked up pressure en route to a 40-22 win. Fixing that weakness became a top offseason priority.

Why It Matters Now

Simmons’ NFL debut won’t be a soft landing. The Chiefs open the season on September 5 against the Chargers, who boast one of the league’s most disruptive pass-rushing duos. A week later, the rookie will line up against the very team that embarrassed Kansas City’s line in February: the Philadelphia Eagles.

For Simmons, the challenge is enormous-but so is the opportunity. Analysts like those at Arrowhead Pride graded the pick highly, citing his upside as a potential long-term answer. Others, like TalkSport, have already dubbed him a possible “steal” of the draft.

The Chiefs’ decision says as much about Mahomes as it does Simmons. Entering his ninth season, Mahomes is still at the peak of his powers, and the organization is willing to trust a rookie to protect him because they believe the reward outweighs the risk. If Simmons holds his ground, Kansas City’s offense could look sharper than it did in last year’s postseason stumble.