When the Ohio State Buckeyes welcomed Josh Simmons as a transfer from San Diego State in 2023, they hoped that the long and athletic offensive tackle would make significant strides after struggling to run block or avoid penalties with the Aztecs. Their faith in the young lineman was rewarded.
Simmons earned a starting role in his first season with the team and was putting together a dominant year in 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury.
In the five games Simmons played last season before suffering his knee injury in his sixth start of 2024, the Buckeyes left tackle allowed zero quarterback pressures and picked up zero penalties.
While his injury will raise concerns, Simmons may have shown enough in his time on the field to make him a worthwhile roll of the dice for the Dolphins in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Position: Offensive tackle
Projected round: 1st round
Height: 6’5
Weight: 310
Fit for Miami
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier hasn’t shied away from taking players with injury concerns and he’s paid the price for those risks. That’s included the consistent absences of Terron Armstead, who frequently missed time during his tenure with the New Orleans Saints and has done the same in Miami.
Taking another offensive tackle fresh off of knee surgery could mean more of the same issues. Then again, knee injuries aren’t the devastating, career-altering issues they once were. Simmons wasn’t prone to missing time prior to 2024 and there’s a good chance he’ll leave those concerns behind in the NFL.
“Josh will be fully cleared for practice by the start of NFL training camp and he will be a high first-round pick,” Simmons’ agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN’s Adam Schefter in December.
Miami seems to have a pair of offensive tackles of the future in 2024 second-round pick Patrick Paul and 2020 first-rounder Austin Jackson. But the latter has experience at guard. Taking an an interior lineman would be the more conventional way of filling out the offensive line, but a player as talented and promising as Simmons could be hard to pass up.
Simmons isn’t the run blocking mauler of the class, but he’s a smooth mover with the feet and hands of an elite pass blocker. He could prove to be a help in the Dolphins’ run game too, as his quickness and leverage could make him a perfect fit in Miami’s zone blocking scheme.
Bottom line
While the Dolphins could certainly benefit from the type of massive lineman who can plow straight ahead on a third- or fourth-and-1 situation, Simmons might be the perfect fit in their system.
What it would mean for the starting lineup in 2025 and beyond is a problem they can figure out. The top priority is simply adding talent up front.
Simmons’ injury would make it a risk, but he may be a worthwhile one at No. 13 overall.