Chiefs' First-Round Pick Predicted to Make 'Instant Impact'

Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes was sacked a good bit more this past season than he was in 2023. As a result, the team used their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on an offensive lineman.

And he could make his presence felt in a big way in his rookie season.

In a recent article by NFL.com's Gennaro Filice, he puts together a team of the rookies that he thinks could make an "instant impact" for their teams. And on the offensive line, he has Chiefs' first-year tackle Josh Simmons.

"Simmons appears to be checking every box in his rehab, including participating in team drills this month. And his work ethic consistently draws praise from Andy Reid," Filice wrote. "Roller-coaster RT Jawaan Taylor has one year of guaranteed money left on his deal, and Kansas City gave free-agent LT Jaylon Moore decent loot in March, but if Simmons is healthy, the rookie has the raw talent to boost the Chiefs’ bookend blocking in Year 1."

The 22-year-old left tackle is coming off of a torn patellar tendon that he suffered this past October, which caused him to miss all but six games in 2024. If he didn't have that injury, many believe that Simmons would have been the first tackle taken off the board in this year's draft.

Simmons has reportedly been making good progress towards recovery, so he could be on track to at least compete for the starting left tackle job for the Chiefs in his rookie season.