Josh Simmons sends the rest of the NFL a major warning about one of the Kansas City Chiefs’ most important rookies
The Kansas City Chiefs’ second-year left tackle has come away impressed by the team’s second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, R Mason Thomas.
Kansas City Chiefs second-year left tackle Josh Simmons has sent out a warning to the rest of the league about one of the team’s most important young players.
The 2025 NFL season was marked by a lot of dysfunction. One of the primary reasons for the Chiefs’ lack of success on the defensive side of the ball was the lack of consistent edge rush pressure.
Kansas City sought to beef up its edge rushing room through the 2026 NFL Draft, adding edge rusher R Mason Thomas out of the University of Oklahoma. In 23 games played over the last two seasons, Thomas amassed 15.5 sacks and plenty of pressures. He was selected with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Thomas has been flashing during training camp, even earning some first-team opportunities opposite George Karlaftis. The 6-foot-2 and 240-pound edge rusher models his game after some of the NFL’s most elite stars at his position. What Simmons sees in the rookie suggests he can soon become one of those stars himself.
Simmons sees something special in Kansas City Chiefs EDGE R Mason Thomas
Simmons reshaped his body this offseason, moving into a different weight class. He has been one of the most consistently dominant players during Chiefs training camp practices. When he lined up across from Thomas, though, he saw something in the rookie that has him excited for what’s to come.
“Extremely explosive,” Simmons began. “You almost have to be offside to try and stay in front of him. So I think he’ll definitely keep me and any tackle on their toes to make sure you’re on the snap count, for sure.”
The praise goes beyond just speed and quickness. Thomas also does a good job of converting speed to power. He was able to get Simmons moving backward on a one-on-one rep that made its way to social media.
This isn’t just a veteran gassing up a rookie
This isn’t a case of a veteran player giving empty compliments to a rookie in a press conference. Simmons seemed genuinely impressed by what he’s seen from Thomas. With Peter Woods already looking like a Day 1 contributor on the defensive line, Thomas rising to that same level of success as a rookie would be a great sign for the Chiefs.
This team struggled a season ago to generate pressure across the defensive line, specifically at the edge rusher position. Having two rookies capable of making an immediate impact could change the trajectory of Kansas City’s defense in 2026.
