The New England Patriots are leaving all options open in hopes of filling their starting left tackle spot this season. However, it seems quite clear that they view the draft as a realistic avenue to addressing the issue and finding a long-term solution.
While the class as a whole is not particularly deep, there are several potential candidates to have a positive impact from early on. Talent-wise, Ohio State’s Josh Simmons should be among them even though there are some questions about him entering the draft.
Hard facts
Name: Josh Simmons
Position: Offensive tackle
School: Ohio State
Opening day age: 22 (12/26/2002)
Measurements: 6’4 7/8”, 311 lbs, 82” wingspan, 33” arm length, 10” hand size, N/A Relative Athletic Score
Experience
Career statistics: 32 games (32 starts) | 1,930 offensive snaps, 102 special teams snaps | 40 QB pressures surrendered (5 sacks, 7 hits, 28 hurries) | 26 penalties
Accolades: Third-team All-Big Ten (2024)
A four-star recruit as a guard coming out of Helix High School in La Mesa, CA, Simmons received scholarship offers from several of the nation’s top programs. However, despite Michigan, Georgia, Penn State and Ohio State, among others, all expressing interest, he decided to start his college career at home: Simmons joined San Diego State and went on to spend two seasons with the Aztecs, including as a true freshman redshirt in 2021.
The following year, he started all 13 games for the team at right tackle. However, he decided to enter the transfer portal after the season and moved to Ohio State. Immediately installed as the Buckeyes’ starting left tackle, he went on to start all 19 games over the next one-and-a-half seasons. The second of those saw him earn third-team All-Big Ten honors despite missing half the season after tearing his patellar tendon in October.
With one more year of eligibility left, Simmons decided not to return to school. He was invited to the Scouting Combine but was unable to do any drills as part of his recovery.
Draft profile
Expected round: 1-2 | Consensus big board: No. 25 | Patriots meeting: Combine
Strengths: Before his season-ending knee injury against Oregon last year, Simmons was on a definitive first-round trajectory. His play had taken a massive leap forward in 2024, and he began combining his immense athletic talent with improved technique.
In general, Simmons is a strong and powerful player but still moves smoothly as a run blocker. He identifies his targets quickly and decisively, and due to his speed is an asset against smaller second- and third-level defenders. He is quick out of his stance and has the agility to change direction while still maintaining balance and upper body power, and has shown the ability to execute reach, down and drive blocks at a consistent level.
At 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds, Simmons possesses an NFL-ready frame that is complemented by solid length despite his 33-inch arms being at the lower end of the league-preferred threshold. He also uses his 10-inch hands well and in a variety of ways to drive defenders off the ball, both as a run blocker and a pass protector. Once engaged, he has the grip strength to stay that way to neutralize his opponents.
Simmons also has shown the ability to alter his plan based on the defense. He has an understanding of line games, and his quickness as both an athlete and a processor allows him to adapt to what the defense is throwing at him.
Weaknesses: The biggest uncertainty when it comes to Simmons, particularly in relation to the 2025 season, is his injury status. While there have been some optimistic reports, the medicals will be critical coming off a major knee injury that forced him to end his junior season early and undergo reconstructive surgery.
There also are possible concerns about his development relative to the opponents he played in 2024. While Simmons looked impressive, he went down before having a chance to go against the elite competition on Ohio State’s schedule. Furthermore, there have been some less-than-flattering quotes about his football character and fundamentals in a recent article.
Patriots preview
What would be his role? A healthy Josh Simmons is a bona fide left tackle prospect capable of filling that role from the get-go. His medicals are a question mark, but if joining the Patriots and getting green-lighted he would immediately compete for the starting job with the likes of Vederian Lowe and Caedan Wallace. More likely than not, he would win it.
What is his growth potential? Before his injury, the arrow was pointing up big-time for Simmons — a player who showed definitive improvement every year in college. If he can pick up where he left off and also maintain his level of play against superior competition, he offers Pro Bowl potential from early in his career.
Does he have positional versatility? Even though he will play at left tackle at the NFL level, Simmons offers extensive experience at the right tackle spot as well. Additionally, he also played some special teams filling the expected role as a protector on field goal and extra point tries.
Why the Patriots? The Patriots need a left tackle, and they need one badly and quickly. While his recovery status might have a negative impact as far as the latter is concerned, there is no denying he has the tools to become a starter at the next level and hold his own against NFL-caliber defenders. In fact, if not for his knee injury he might be the cleanest left tackle in the draft as far as his combination of size and athletic skill are concerned.
Why not the Patriots? Even though he has found himself in the latter parts of the first round in most mock drafts and big boards lately, Simmons dropping all the way to the 38th overall pick seems unlikely at this point in time. The Patriots might not be willing, or able, to make the jump up to get him in the 20s or early 30s. In addition, they might be turned off by his medicals or his relatively small sample size playing at a first-round level.
One-sentence verdict: If the Patriots decide to forgo the offensive tackle position at No. 4, Simmons is a more-than-capable left tackle later on Day 1 as well as a prospect whose development between 2023 and 2024 was nothing short of exciting.
What do you think about Josh Simmons as a potential Patriots target? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.