Kansas City Chiefs Linked to One of NFL Draft’s Top Offensive Tackles

After surrendering six sacks to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX and watching Patrick Mahomes take a career-high 36 sacks during the regular season, it’s no secret the Kansas City Chiefs must retool their offensive line.

In ESPN’s latest mock draft, Mel Kiper Jr. sees the defending champs addressing that need in a big way.

Why Josh Simmons Makes Sense for the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL Draft

Kiper projects the Chiefs to select Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons with the No. 32 overall pick, praising both his upside and fit in Kansas City.

“If Simmons didn’t injure his knee last October, we might not be having this conversation — because his projection might be closer to the top 10,” Kiper wrote for ESPN. “He has really good footwork and power, and he gave up just one sack over 19 career starts at left tackle. Heck, he hadn’t given up a single pressure in six games before the injury last season. That’s the kind of pass protection the Chiefs need.”

The need is certainly there. Veteran guard Joe Thuney was traded to the Bears earlier this offseason, and while Kansas City has invested draft capital up front in recent years, protecting Mahomes remains the organization’s top priority.

Simmons, who measured in at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, showed plenty of potential when healthy at Ohio State, showcasing the athleticism and technique to develop into a reliable NFL blindside protector.

Before getting injured, Simmons didn’t allow a sack with just one quarterback hurry on his way to a 74.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

If he returns to form post-injury, Simmons could be a Day 1 contributor — and a long-term answer to help prop open Kansas City’s Super Bowl window.