Dec 7, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid arrives prior to the game against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amy Kontras-Imagn Images Amy Kontras-Imagn Images

Identifying the Chiefs’ Most Impactful Rookie

Originally posted on Kansas City Chiefs on SI
By Fernando Alfaro-Donis | Last updated Jan 6, 2026 11:00 AM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs have concluded their 2025 season, with them being outside of the playoffs, and their roster on the verge of great change. They have plenty of upcoming free agents, and it's impossible to bring everyone back.

If Travis Kelce doesn't retire, they're going to have to pay him to come back to the team. That's on top of having to solve their most glaring issues in the same offseason, like their offensive line, running game, and defensive woes. Which of their rookies gives them the most hope for the future?

Most Impactful Rookie

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Ben Cooper writes for Pro Football Focus , and he broke down one rookie who had the most impact on their team this season. For the Chiefs, Josh Simmons was their most impactful rookie due to his contributions to their improved offensive line play this season.

"Stability at left tackle has been hard to come by for the Chiefs, who have cycled through several lackluster options since Orlando Brown Jr. departed in free agency ahead of the 2023 season. Simmons may well be the team’s long-term answer at that spot", said Cooper.

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Simmons was the first-round pick for the Chiefs, and the only reason a talent like Simmons made it that far down the draft was because of his injury history. Unfortunately, Simmons couldn't play the entire duration of his rookie season, and the Chiefs sorely missed him in his time away.

"His 75.5 PFF pass-blocking grade is easily the best mark among any Chiefs player to see snaps at left tackle since Brown yielded the role. Simmons missed a chunk of the season due to personal reasons but still made a significant impact for Kansas City".

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The offensive line was a huge priority for the Chiefs following their Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Simmons was the correct selection, but they still have the same needs heading into this offseason.

He's no doubt their franchise left tackle, and his excellent PFF grade reflects that. Despite having one of the most expensive offensive lines in the NFL, they're still going to need to improve this offseason. The Chiefs have been linked to Jeremiyah Love through multiple mock drafts, but I think they should heavily consider taking another offensive lineman in the first round for a second-year in a row.

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Patrick Mahomes is coming back from a career-altering injury; his protection up front should be the highest priority for a team trying to get back into relevance. Andy Reid needs to pair Simmons with another rising star along the offensive line, and they currently lack that on their roster.