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The Kansas City Chiefs offensive line is under the microscope after Patrick Mahomes took a career-high 36 sacks last season. It’s a problem that needs fixing – and fast.
The defending champs addressed this issue by selecting offensive lineman Josh Simmons in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft. But Chiefs Kingdom should pump the brakes before expecting Simmons to be the immediate solution to their protection problems.
Here’s why: Simmons isn’t just a rookie adjusting to NFL speed – he’s also coming back from a torn patellar tendon suffered last season at Ohio State. That’s a significant injury for any player, let alone someone being asked to protect Mahomes’ blindside at left tackle.
Yet that appears to be exactly where the Chiefs are headed.
Rookie Risks: Is Kansas City rushing Simmons into action?
ESPN’s Adam Teicher reported that Simmons was already taking first-team reps at left tackle during OTAs. Getting the rookie some early work makes sense, but these were non-contact practices – hardly a real test for a player coming off a major knee injury.
The real evaluation can’t begin until training camp hits and the pads come on.
Haven’t we seen this movie before? Just last year, the Chiefs thrust second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia into the starting left tackle role to begin the season. The results were disastrous – Suamataia was benched after just two games, with Wanya Morris taking over. Now, Suamataia has been moved to guard, effectively ending his tackle experiment before his second season even begins.
This feels like déjà vu.
The Chiefs actually have options here. They signed former 49ers tackle Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million contract this offseason. That’s not backup money. Yet all indications suggest Moore will be holding a clipboard while a rookie with a surgically-repaired knee protects the league’s most valuable asset.
Throwing Simmons into the fire carries significant risk. If he struggles early and gets benched like Suamataia did, you’ve potentially damaged his confidence and development. This isn’t some rebuilding team with the luxury of letting rookies learn through mistakes. Andy Reid and company are chasing a three-peat – they need reliable protection from day one.
The difference between Simmons and Suamataia might be talent ceiling. Pre-injury, Simmons was considered a higher-caliber prospect than Suamataia was coming out of BYU. That potential may tempt the Chiefs to roll the dice again, hoping Simmons can hold his own while learning on the job.
But placing this much responsibility on a rookie’s shoulders – especially one returning from a serious injury – feels like an unnecessary gamble for a team with championship aspirations.
