Former All-Pro OT Mitchell Schwartz gives endorsement to Chiefs 2025 first-round draft pick Josh Simmons
The Kansas City Chiefs aren't messing around when it comes to the offensive tackle position. Despite signing OT Jaylon Moore during free agency last month, the Chiefs addressed the position again right off the bat in the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting Josh Simmons out of Ohio State. Kansas City is committed to finding bookend […]
The Kansas City Chiefs aren't messing around when it comes to the offensive tackle position.
Despite signing OT Jaylon Moore during free agency last month, the Chiefs addressed the position again right off the bat in the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting Josh Simmons out of Ohio State.
Kansas City is committed to finding bookend offensive tackles for the future. For many years, it had a great duo in Eric Fisher on the left side and Mitchell Schwartz on the right. Schwartz took to X on Thursday night to give his endorsement to the Chiefs for selecting Simmons.
"This 71 is going to be a lot more athletic than the last one," Schwartz said.
Schwartz of course wore No. 71 throughout his five-year stint in Kansas City, and Simmons wore it at Ohio State. Nobody on the Chiefs' roster current wears the number, so it figures that Simmons will get it.
Simmons may possess more raw athleticism than Schwartz did, but Schwartz was one of the best OTs of his era. During his nine-year NFL career with the Chiefs and Cleveland Browns, Schwartz was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, selected as a Second-Team All-Pro three times (2016, 2017, 2019), and a First-Team All-Pro in 2018.
Those are big shoes to fill. It is unknown if Simmons will play on the right side like Schwartz did or the left. However, he has experience playing both. Jawaan Taylor is penciled in as the starting RT, but his recovery from a lingering knee injury dating back to last season is something to keep tabs on.
The performance of Jaylon Moore will also factor into what side Simmons plays on. The most likely scenario is that Moore and Simmons battle it out for the start LT job during camp, with the loser being the swing tackle in 2025. The Chiefs could move on from Taylor in 2026, which would provide an opportunity for Moore or Simmons to take his job.
Chiefs 2025 first-round draft pick Josh Simmons has already proven he can step his game up against higher competition
He has a track record of doing it.
