For years, the Kansas City Chiefs have struggled with blindside protection for Patrick Mahomes.
But now, after years of struggles, it seems like they may have finally found the solution.
Rookie Josh Simmons has turned heads early in training camp, and it seems like he’s ready to hold down the fort at left tackle, via Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team.
Early storyline out of #Chiefs camp: Rookie OT Josh Simmons has been a standout through one week of camp — and it could potentially shift the competition to the right side, where Jaylon Moore and Jawaan Taylor rotated today, per local reports. Simmons has been holding firm on the… pic.twitter.com/jZ8Jfbh75K
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 27, 2025
The Chiefs’ inability to protect Mahomes came back to haunt them when it mattered most last season.
He’s still arguably the best quarterback in the game, but even the best can only do so much when they’re constantly running into pressure and playing behind a collapsed pocket.
The Chiefs’ offense has taken multiple steps back since Matt Nagy replaced Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, and though head coach Andy Reid continues to be in charge of playcalling, that has been a major factor in the regression.
The team was on the verge of making history as the first team to win three Super Bowls in a row before their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The most stacked teams in the NFL are quite strong in the front seven, and as such, the Chiefs cannot afford to keep dealing with pass-protection issues.
Simmons was a star in college, and if the Chiefs have finally found their left tackle, it wouldn’t be shocking to see them back as the team to beat.
