The Kansas City Chiefs’ biggest offseason decision might already be made, and it doesn’t favor their first-round pick.
With training camp inching closer, the buzz around the left tackle spot is heating up. But if one insider is right, it won’t be Josh Simmons protecting Patrick Mahomes in Week 1.
Jaylon Moore Likely To Get the First Crack at LT
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer didn’t hold back when asked if Kansas City might start a rookie at left tackle.
“I’d be surprised if Josh Simmons, a wildly talented young tackle, is ready for Week 1,” Breer said. “The Chiefs paid Jaylon Moore $15 million per year to come over from San Francisco to, at the very least, stopgap the left tackle spot, and I’d expect he’ll be out there in Week 1.”
The Chiefs signed Moore early in free agency, viewing him as a stabilizing force at a position that let them down badly in their Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
But once the team selected Simmons with the No. 32 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the assumption was that the Ohio State product might push for the job immediately.
Simmons, however, is still working his way back from a ruptured patellar tendon, a brutal injury for anyone, let alone a 6’5”, 317-pound lineman.
While his upside is sky-high, Breer notes that development time will be key. The more likely scenario? Moore at LT, Jawaan Taylor at RT, and Simmons being eased in.
What This Means for Kansas City’s Long-Term Plans
Kansas City didn’t draft Simmons as a backup. Barring setbacks, they view him as the future cornerstone on Mahomes’ blind side. But the franchise knows the risk of rushing a raw tackle coming off a serious injury.
Still, there’s buzz around Simmons. He’s flashed creativity and poise, even impressing the team during a post-draft visit by sketching the Chiefs logo from memory in a video posted by the team. That confidence, paired with his athleticism, is part of why analysts like Pete Prisco believe Simmons can be a future star.
But the Chiefs are trying to win now, and that means putting proven players on the field. Moore, who started a few games in San Francisco last season, fits that bill.
Kansas City’s focus this offseason has clearly been protecting Mahomes. Signing Moore was step one. Drafting Simmons was step two. If Simmons continues to rehab and develop, step three could be a midseason shift or a full transition by 2026, when Moore might flip sides or move on.
Until then, expect the veteran to hold down the job and for Simmons to be on standby, waiting for his moment.