Anyone who watched Super Bowl LIX could see that the Kansas City Chiefs could not protect Patrick Mahomes when it mattered most.
The Philadelphia Eagles' trouncing of the Chiefs in the Super Bowl put the team's inability to protect the quarterback in the forefront for everyone to see. Mahomes was sacked a career-high 36 times in the regular season and was sacked six times against the Eagles.
Kansas City parted ways with two-time First-Team All-Pro Joe Thuney this offseason, but may have found a gem of a lineman with their first-round draft pick, Josh Simmons. Simmons had the potential to be a top pick, but fell to the Chiefs with the 32nd pick, and was named the team's most dangerous new addition by Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski.
"From a pure ability standpoint, the Kansas City Chiefs may have gotten the steal of the draft when Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons fell to them with the 32nd overall pick," Sobleski wrote. "Two things caused Simmons' slide: his recovery from a torn patellar tendon and character concerns."
"The inability to properly protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes prevented the Chiefs from three-peating as champions this past season. Simmons has a chance to finally slam the revolving door shut at left tackle, as long as he's healthy and committed."
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Simmons is a 6'5" rookie out of Ohio State. The 22-year-old spent two seasons with the Ohio State Buckeyes before getting injured six games into his senior year. Simmons could be the left tackle that the Chiefs desperately need to protect Mahomes as they look to make it to the Super Bowl for the fourth straight season.
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