Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons has officially declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, according to various reports. Simmons suffered a season-ending knee injury against Oregon in mid-October. That setback complicates his pre-draft stock.
When healthy, Simmons was playing like the potential best offensive tackle in the entire class. With positional value questions surrounding other top-ranked prospects like Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks Jr. (are they tackles or guards?), Simmons had a real opportunity to elevate himself. For now, his projection has been placed on hold.
NFL franchises will still be tempted to draft Simmons with a first-round selection if his medicals check out. Offensive tackle is a premium position and Simmons is one of the few top-rated linemen that's definitely not a guard. We've identified three potential team fits for Simmons.
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers arguably possess long-term needs at both left and right tackle. Aging veteran Trent Williams recently reworked his contract, but there's no guarantee he'll continue playing through the conclusion of that agreement, with retirement being a yearly possibility. Right tackle Colton McKivitz has not necessarily played like a future solution.
If head coach Kyle Shanahan is going to remain with the 49ers beyond this disappointing season, one that appeared slated to miss the playoffs, he'll want to start thinking about the future state of his tackle positions. When healthy, Simmons was a dominant prospect that blended power with rare athleticism. He's an incredibly physical blocker who could execute Shanahan's scheme with great success.
Baltimore Ravens
It's been a whirlwind couple of seasons for Baltimore Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley. A Pro Bowler in 2019, Stanley has dealt with various injuries since his career-best campaign. A season-ending ankle injury in 2020 limited him to seven combined games across that year and 2021, and he missed additional time in 2022 and 2023.
The soon-to-be-31-year-old Stanley has finally been healthy this season, but he's also in a fate-deciding contract year. The Ravens may be hesitant to commit another lucrative extension to their oft-injured tackle. With recent draft picks Daniel Faalele and Roger Rosengarten being solutions at guard and right tackle respectively, a true successor is needed to protect Lamar Jackson's blindside. The Ravens are the type of model organization that could quickly get Simmons on track.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs just invested a second-round pick in former BYU blocker Kingsley Suamataia, but more might be required. Offensive tackle has been a sore spot all season long. Suamataia hasn't managed to break into the lineup despite Wanya Morris' struggles. They recently added DJ Humphries as a potential band-aid solution. Meanwhile, Jawaan Taylor hasn't met expectations of his $80 million contract at right tackle.
The Chiefs are facing a plethora of uncertainty at offensive tackle despite their willingness to pour premium resources into protecting franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes. If Simmons slides to the back end of the first round due to his knee injury, the Chiefs could decide to strike. Simmons could address long-term concerns.
