Josh Simmons Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

School: Ohio State

Class: Senior

Position: OT

HT: 6’5

WT: 310 lbs

Background: Josh Simmons was a fairly under recruited 4-star offensive tackle out of San Diego, California. Simmons was a top 20 IOL and a top 30 player in California for the class of 2021. Simmons played for Helix High School in La Mesa. He committed to play for San Diego State over Michigan, Penn State, and Miami.

College: Simmons redshirted in 2021 in his first year with the Aztecs before starting every game at right tackle in 2022 as a redshirt freshman. His prolific 2022 campaign put him on national notice and Simmons leveraged that into a transfer to Ohio State. Simmons came to Columbus and immediately became the Buckeyes’ starting left tackle. Josh suffered a season-ending injury in the Buckeyes’ game against the Oregon Ducks in October, but he still managed to be an All-Big 10 honorable mention for his contributions to the team when healthy.

Strengths: Josh Simmons is an athletic left tackle who has been regarded as one of the best at the position for years now. Simmons is a mauler in the run game. He finishes his assignment at the line of scrimmage with a level of physicality that is rare. When moving to the second level, he shows off his athleticism and movement skills. He is light on his feet for his size – getting to the second level quickly. Simmons is athletic enough to handle those speed rushers, but he is strong enough to absorb contact from the bull rushes from the bigger defensive linemen. He has a firm anchor to lean on to stall rushers and take them out of their play. Simmons plays at an optimal pad level, allowing him to consistently land the initial punch and win the leverage battle. Simmons displays good footwork which allows him to keep his assignment in front of him.

Weaknesses: Josh Simmons suffered a season-ending knee injury halfway through the 2024 season. He will need some time to recover and may not be ready for his new team right away. He will need to prove that he is the same athlete after the injury. Simmons has that killer instinct, which can lead to him getting overeager to make a big play. This eagerness can lead to him being out of position at times. Simmons is extremely grabby in the phonebooth. He needs to have more active hands and utilize his strong punch consistently.

Conclusion: Josh Simmons can be an elite left tackle as both a run blocker and in pass protection. If he can come back to himself after the injury, he will be viewed as one of the best offensive tackles in the draft. His physical nature will assert himself instantly in the NFL. Simmons’ rapid development in college goes to show that he has yet to reach his ceiling and has plenty of untapped potential.

Scheme Fit: Gap Rushing Offense

Ideal Role: Right Tackle

Best Team Fits: HOU, SF, NE

Player Comparison: Trevor Penning

Player Grade: 1st Round (90.9)