Josh Simmons 2025 NFL Draft: Ohio State OT Scouting Report
Coming out of Ohio State, we have a physically gifted offensive lineman in Josh Simmons. As we look ahead to the talented 2025 NFL Draft class, Simmons brings plenty of upside. However, he also has some areas of concern to his game as well. Today, we’ll be breaking down his NFL outlook in this scouting report.
Josh Simmons 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Simmons is a highly athletic and physically gifted offensive tackle. Notably, he brings an intriguing combination of size, strength, and quickness. In a loaded 2025 NFL Draft class, he is one of the offensive tackles with plenty of upside. Additionally, he possesses the ideal frame for an NFL tackle, complemented by exceptional foot speed and arm length.
Furthermore, Simmons’ ability to protect the edge with fluid movement and a solid hand technique makes him a promising pass protector. Moreover, his physicality and aggression in the run game add to his overall value. However, concerns surrounding penalties, technical inconsistencies, and injury history will be key factors for teams evaluating his NFL readiness. Continue reading to learn all about this talented OT from Ohio State.
HT: 6047
WT: 317
HAND: 1000
ARM: 3300
40: 5.17
Strengths
- Pass Protection Prowess: Simmons’ foot speed and hand technique make him a wall on the blindside. His kick-slide is smooth and covers ample ground, allowing him to neutralize wide-9 speed rushers while maintaining balance. In 2024, he allowed zero sacks and just one pressure across 306 offensive snaps before his injury, per PFF metrics.
- Run Blocking Tenacity: A tone-setter in the ground game, Simmons excels at sealing edges on outside zone runs and climbing to the second level with precision. His ability to latch onto defenders with sticky hands and sustain blocks through the whistle stands out.
- Technical Refinement: Shows advanced hand usage for a college tackle—independent hands with various strikes (circle punch, snatch-trap, inside jab). His punch timing and placement disrupt rushers’ rhythm effectively.
- Versatility: Proven success at both right and left tackle, offering scheme flexibility at the next level. Comfortable in Ohio State’s zone-heavy system but flashes the power to thrive in gap schemes.
- Ascending Trajectory: Marked improvement from 2022 (SDSU) to 2024 demonstrates a high ceiling. His 2024 tape reflects a leap in spatial awareness and consistency, suggesting he’s still unlocking his potential.
Areas for Improvement
- Injury Concerns: The torn patellar tendon in October 2024 is a major red flag. While reports suggest he’s ahead of schedule in rehab, teams will scrutinize his medicals for long-term durability and recovery timeline. The limited 2024 sample size (six games) also leaves questions about elite competition unanswered.
- Hand Placement Consistency: Occasionally allows defenders into his chest against wide alignments, particularly when overextending to counter speed. Refining his hand discipline could elevate his game further.
- Penalty Prone: Accumulated 25 penalties over two seasons (17 at SDSU in 2022, 8 at OSU in 2023), often from overaggressiveness or late hands. He must clean up technical infractions to avoid stalling drives in the NFL.
- Raw Power Matchups: While stout, he’s not an overwhelming people-mover against bull rushers. Adding lower-body mass and refining his anchor could help him stonewall the league’s strongest edges.
- Limited High-End Competition Exposure: Early 2024 dominance came against lesser pass rushes (e.g., Akron and Western Michigan). Missed marquee matchups like Penn State and Michigan due to injury, leaving some projection uncertainty.
Conclusion
Simmons is a tantalizing prospect whose tape screams “franchise tackle” but whose draft stock hinges on one critical variable: his knee. Before the injury, he was trending toward a top-15 pick; now, he’s a calculated risk with massive reward potential. Simmons could anchor an NFL line for a decade if he regains full explosiveness and proves durable. Teams will need to weigh his pre-injury dominance against the uncertainty of his recovery, but the upside is undeniable.
Simmons profiles as a high-upside left tackle with the tools to start early in his rookie year, assuming medical clearance. His athleticism and polish suggest a universal scheme fit—excelling in zone-based offenses but capable of adapting to man-gap systems. If his knee checks out, he’s a top-20 talent with Pro Bowl potential within three years. Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, or Pittsburgh Steelers, needing blindside protectors, could target him late in Round 1 or early Round 2.
Round Grade: 2nd Round
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