Chiefs' College Scouting Director gives perfect comparisons for new LT Josh Simmons, further highlighting 2025 NFL draft value

"I'm gonna say Josh (Simmons) is one of the better tackles in this draft class," Nutt told reporters. "You could make your case for the best, but he's definitely in the top three in this draft class in terms of what he provides. The only difference maybe between him some other guys is, you know, he started two years, and some of these other guys, like the LSU kid, started more, and you can say experience and stuff like that. 

"But Josh is physically—he is elite. I mean, he is big. He's strong. His feet jump off the tape when you put this tape on his set is as pretty as it looks. Now, in terms of offensive line pass setting, he got better every year. His first year at Ohio State, he flipped the left side and now from the right side the year prior, and I think it just took him a little time to adjust to just everything, like a new playbook, a new surrounding, a new position, essentially. You know, it's not as easy as people think. Going from the right side to the left side. There is a big difference. And sometimes it just takes people a little longer. And I think that was the case with Josh this last year. I mean, you can watch those six games, and it's not unfair to say he was the best tackle up to that point." 

What else does Nutt see when he watches Simmons? He likened him to a pair of left tackle starters who have been playing at a very high level for the last four years in the NFL. 

Simmons compares to Vikings starter, Chargers All-Pro left tackle

Had Simmons not been injured in October, the Chiefs feel that he would've continued down a path that marked him not just as one of the best tackles in this class, but one of the best of the past several years. Nutt likened him to an AFC West foe and an NFC North stud. 

"In terms of years past, I would say Josh (Simmons), when he was healthy, at this year, this tape would be one of the better ones in the last few years," Nutt said. "He kind of reminds me of Christian Darrisaw, who has done really well for the Vikings. He's got a little bit of (Rashawn) Slater in him, who plays for the Chargers. You know, the kid's arms are longer than I think people think that the combine measured is 33, but his Pro Day is 34 and 1/8. And I think that's closer to what we kind of have. I think we had him around 34 when we brought them in."

Slater, the former 13th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has earned two Pro Bowl honors and a second-team All-Pro selection. Darrisaw, the former 23rd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, doesn't have the same accolades, but his on-field success is notable. He finished 2022 as PFF's highest-graded offensive lineman, and this year fell just outside the top 10 in the league. 

If the Chiefs can achieve anything resembling that level of productivity and success from Simmons, they will be thrilled. The big question is his health, which is something Kansas City's training and coaching staff feels comfortable with. They also consider it a blessing in disguise because it allowed them to draft Simmons.

"It stinks he got injured," Nutt said. "Because I do think, I mean, I guess it's good for us, because we got him, and that's the only way we would have gotten him, because that kid he was, he was a top twenty pick. So, you know, it stinks for the kid. Hurt him in his wallet and money. But things happen for a reason, and it's kind of not where you start to where you finish. And I think just the setup here that we have with Coach (Andy) Reid and Coach (Andy) Heck is going to be great for this kid." 

The bottom line comes down to what Simmons showed throughout his college career. The value is through the roof, but only if he can continue on the path he was set on once he transferred to Ohio State. That task will fall on Big Red and Coach Heck.

"The kid is super talented and super willing to work," Nutt concluded. "And we're excited to have him where we got him."