The Kansas City Chiefs‘ rookie class included some standout players who weren’t initially drafted by the team. NFL.com Editor, Gennaro Filice, shared his grades of the Chiefs’ draft class, including thoughts on two specific rookies.
Filice graded the Chiefs with a B-, listing the splits for games played and started in 2025. Undrafted free agent left tackle Esa Pole was also included in his grading system. Kansas City ranks 20th among 32 NFL teams on the list.
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“A Day 1 starter on Patrick Mahomes’ blind side, (Josh) Simmons looked the part, yielding just one sack in the first five games of the season, per PFF. But then he missed four gameswhile tending to a family matter,” wrote Filice. “After returning to the starting lineup in mid-November, Simmons continued to thrive … until a wrist injury ended his season on Thanksgiving. I remain high on Simmons’ raw talent, but he’s not gaining fans in the “availability is the best ability” crowd. (Nohl) Williams, on the other hand, was active for all 17 games, though his defensive snap totals varied during the first three months of the season.”
Simmons had an impressive rookie season when he was available to play and contribute in the starting lineup. The rookie class had extra time on the field to end the 2025 season, given the team’s 6-11 finish and its playoff ineligibility.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: NFL Writer reveals 2025 Kansas City Chiefs rookie class report cards