Chiefs find protection for Patrick Mahomes in final pick of draft's first round

Offensive line struggles have prohibited the Kansas City Chiefs in their two Super Bowl losses in the Patrick Mahomes era.

In both instances, the left tackle position was a weak spot in pass protection. Therefore, it was almost a foregone conclusion that the Chiefs would invest a first-round pick on an offensive tackle.

Kansas City was fortunate how the board fell on Thursday night, allowing them to trade back and acquire a 2025 fifth-round pick.

Offensive tackle Josh Simmons, who suffered a torn patella tendon in 2024, would have most likely been drafted in the top 10 if he had played a full season. Instead, he was selected No. 32 overall as the final pick of the first round.

When Mahomes is protected, Kansas City is virtually unbeatable, but the Chiefs have struggled to find a long-term solution at left tackle.

Kansas City signed Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million contract, with $21.24 million fully guaranteed. It's a risky proposition for a player who has started only 12 games throughout his career, including five in 2024.

Ideally, the Chiefs would prefer for Simmons and Moore to develop into dependable starters, potentially pushing Jawaan Taylor out of the starting lineup.

Simmons is a three-year starter who originally spent two years at San Diego State, where he started 13 games at right tackle before transferring to Ohio State before the 2023 season. During his time in Columbus, Simmons started 18 games (13 at right tackle and five at left tackle).

His experience and elite athleticism for a player his size (6-foot-5, 317 pounds) will help him transition smoothly to the NFL.

All in all, this is an excellent pick by the Chiefs, and the fact that a player of Simmons' caliber slipped to the end of the first round is a bargain for a team with a desperate need at a pivotal position.