Daiyan Henley

The Chiefs took a gamble on injured tackle Josh Simmons, who saw a patellar tendon tear ding his draft stock a bit. The Ohio State standout went down six games into the season, and some debate existed going into the draft about his availability for the season. Simmons said (via The Athletic’s Mike Jones) a July return point, potentially in time for training camp, is expected. The Chiefs have doubled up on tackles this offseason, adding Simmons after giving Jaylon Moore a two-year, $30MM deal in the early hours of the legal tampering period. Kansas City, which used four LT starters last season before its makeshift setup unraveled in the Super Bowl, has seen extensive turnover here since Eric Fisher‘s 2020 AFC championship game injury. If Simmons makes his way to the LT role early, it is worth wondering the team’s Moore plan.

Andy Reid said the Chiefs view Moore as capable of playing multiple O-line positions. Seeing as Moore has never played a guard snap in the NFL, this would mean those positions are LT and RT. Jawaan Taylor has underwhelmed at RT, becoming known for penalties and a phantom start that could draw more. The Chiefs guaranteed Taylor’s $20MM 2025 compensation in 2024, but Moore could potentially compete with the free agency miss this offseason. For now, Moore appears to be a Chiefs stopgap at left tackle.

Here is the latest from the AFC West:

• Although Kolton Miller has made it known he wants a new contract, The Athletic’s Tashan Reed notes the veteran Raiders left tackle has reported for voluntary workouts. The mid-April report pertaining to Miller’s interest in a raise suggested the eighth-year blocker would stay away; his reporting could be a sign the new Las Vegas regime is willing to play ball. One season remains on Miller’s deal, and he saw a few of his LT peers (Dion Dawkins, Taylor Decker, Garett Bolles) extended in their contract years. Those deals helped bump Miller ($18MM AAV), with assists to Ronnie Stanley and Alaric Jackson‘s March re-signings, to the 13th-highest-paid player at his position. The team did not use a first-round pick on a tackle, a rumored scenario, but did add developmental option Charles Grant (William & Mary) in Round 3.
• Alex Cappa is expected to start after signing a two-year deal, and Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline places the ex-Buccaneers and Bengals blocker at right guard. That is unsurprising, as Cappa has started for six years and never taken a left guard snap. The Raiders have Jackson Powers-Johnson, Jordan Meredith and Dylan Parham competing for interior jobs as well. All three are expected to have a say in the center battle, with third-round rookie Caleb Rogers also in this mix as well.
• The Chargers did not use a draft pick on an O-lineman until Round 6 (Pittsburgh’s Branson Taylor). The Day 3 draftee will play guard, but the Bolts still have Trey Pipkins in place as their left guard frontrunner, ESPN.com’s Kris Rhim notes. This points to Mekhi Becton moving from Eagles RG to the same spot in Los Angeles and Zion Johnson‘s rumored center foray closer to reality. This would create a logjam at center, as the Bolts signed longtime starter Andre James after his Raiders release. That said, James agreed to only a one-year, $1.17MM deal (zero guarantees). It would seem James and the re-signed Bradley Bozeman give L.A. some insurance at center, should Johnson remain at LG over Pipkins. James and Becton have provided flexibility the team did not have in 2024.
• Two Charger starters recently underwent surgeries. Daiyan Henley played through a torn labrum last season, per Rhim, but the linebacker is recovering from surgery. The injury occurred in Week 4, but the former third-round pick did not miss a game. Recently re-signed safety Elijah Molden missed the end of last season due to injury, but The Athletic’s Daniel Popper notes he is expected back for camp on time after a surgery.