Chiefs Rookie Trending Around NFL Community: ‘It’s Over for the League’

The hype is growing for Kansas City Chiefs’ first-round left tackle Josh Simmons as he works through his first NFL training camp this summer.

“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,” 33rd Team NFL insider Ari Meirov first relayed on July 27. “Simmons has been holding firm on the left.”

Meirov added that “it’s still early, but if KC found their future LT at pick 32… that would be enormous.”

Before long, Meirov wasn’t the only one who took notice of the latest potential NFL draft steal.

FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz joined the discussion on July 28, noting: “Spoke to a Chiefs source today about rookie Josh Simmons. The team has been impressed with him all summer, and he’s on track to start at left tackle in Week 1, protecting Patrick Mahomes’ blindside.”

Schultz also reminded followers that “Simmons fell to pick No. 32 due to a patella injury, but the Chiefs had no concerns — and it’s paying off so far.”

Of course, the hype around the KC community is just as strong as the national level.

“If Josh Simmons is truly the real deal, it’s over for the league,” Arrowhead Pride contributor Mark Gunnels proclaimed on July 27.

Another Chiefs supporter wrote: “I hope the rest of the league knows that if Simmons is as good as they say he is. 2018 Mahomes may be back.”

Finally, Arrowhead Addict’s Matt Conner joked that “there’s gonna be conspiracy theories about the NFL letting Josh Simmons fall to the Chiefs to protect the league’s best player. Might as well get used to it now.”

Josh Simmons Has Impressed Teammates & Coaches, But Chiefs HC Andy Reid Still Hints a 3-Man Competition Could Occur

Simmons has quickly won over teammates and coaches with his play, including Mahomes, who voiced that he is “excited for the future that [Simmons] has.”

But the left tackle job isn’t his just yet, despite receiving all the first-team reps at Chiefs training camp so far.

“Yeah, we were getting him back in the swing [of things],” Reid told reporters on July 27, while discussing Taylor’s return from injury at right tackle.

“He hadn’t done anything [in a while],” the Chiefs HC added, before confirming that “all three [offensive tackles] are kind of competing in there.”

At least so far, Kansas City’s actions have not matched their words, as Simmons has been the steady starting left tackle with no sign of competition. However, that could change as Taylor gets healthier.

With the way the first-round rookie is playing right now, it’s hard to see him losing the job to Moore, a career backup who most analysts considered overpaid in free agency. Having said that, Simmons must keep his intensity up because the Chiefs will not hesitate to start a veteran over a rookie.

The Next Week of Training Camp Should Tell Us More About the Offensive Tackle Situation

Considering Taylor only just returned, the next week of camp practices should really tell us more about the future of the offensive tackle position.

“Once Taylor gets a few practices under his belt, it will be interesting to see if he resumes his role as the starter,” A-to-Z Sports Kansas City reporter Nick Roesch pondered on July 27.

Roesch added that “if [Taylor] and Moore are still splitting snaps with the first-team offense this time next week, it will be safe to say that they are battling it out for the starting job.”

Needless to say, the next week or so should be very important for Simmons, as well as Taylor and Moore.