The Kansas City Chiefs completed voluntary OTAs last week and will transition into the final stage of the spring this week. The team will have mandatory minicamp from Tuesday to Thursday before a month-long break. Once the break finishes, the Chiefs will travel to Missouri Western State University for training camp, which begins in late July.
One area of offense to keep an eye on throughout mandatory minicamp and training camp is the offensive line. The team has three players guaranteed a starting spot in 2025, with multiple players competing for the two spots, including a first-round pick.
Kansas City Chiefs’ first-round pick has impressed the coaching staff
Ohio State Buckeyes’ standout left tackle, Josh Simmons, was on his way to becoming a top 15 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but a torn patellar tendon caused him to fall into the Chiefs’ laps with the 32nd pick. He began OTAs, only taking part in individual drills, but has since progressed to team drills, as he works his way back. Simmons is expected to be fully cleared for training camp and will compete for the starting left tackle position.
“He’s (Josh Simmons) doing a nice job. We weren’t sure quite how much we were going to be able to get out of him, but he looks strong,” Reid said, via Ed Easton Jr. of Chiefs Wire. “He’s been jumping in and taking the team reps now, which he was just doing the individual stuff before, and you can definitely see the talent. He’s got to keep learning and learn the stuff that (Offensive Line Coach) Andy’s (Heck) teaching him fundamentally and technique-wise, but he sure has a good attitude about it.”
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Kansas City Chiefs’ $80 million veteran in danger of losing starting job
If Josh Simmons recovers and continues to impress, he will likely win the starting left tackle job, causing Jaylon Moore to slide to right tackle. In this scenario, Jawaan Taylor could be in danger of losing the starting right tackle job and becoming the swing tackle in 2025. Michael Silver of The Athletic highlights this as a real possibility for the $80 million veteran.
“There was some concern that Simmons might not be fully healed before the start of the NFL season, but on Thursday, Reid said the rookie ‘looks strong’ in OTAs and that ‘it looks like he’s in good shape.’ If so, he’d be the front-runner for the left tackle job, with Moore also in the mix to start at right tackle,” Silver said.
“Two returning Super Bowl starters, left guard Mike Caliendo and right tackle Jawaan Taylor, could be backups when the Chiefs open their season against the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday, Sept. 5 in São Paolo, Brazil.”
Can the Kansas City Chiefs move on from him?
It’s highly unlikely the front office will part ways with Jawaan Taylor this year because he remained on the roster on the third day of the new league year during the 2024 offseason, and $20 million of his salary in 2025 is fully guaranteed. However, the team can afford to cut him next year. The Chiefs will free up $20 million and incur $7.39 million in dead cap in 2026.
