Sep 2, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Josh Simmons (71) lines up during the NCAA football game at Indiana University Memorial Stadium. Ohio State won 23-3.
Summer is the most pivotal part of scouting for both teams and fans. The idea is to educate yourself on the players who could be selected in next April’s draft and who could play for or against the Vikings.
The latter part is critical to our Summer scouting here on Vikings Wire.
The Minnesota Vikings and General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah only have three picks in the 2025 NFL Draft heading into the Summer. More could be acquired through trade or the compensatory variety, but for now, that is all the ammo they have.
The lack of draft picks means this series will focus on the players we are likely to play against or who could cause problems for the team in the future. Every position will be covered so that you, the reader, can be a complete NFL fan as much as you are a Vikings fan. Educating yourself on these prospects is critical to better understanding the offseason as a whole, and we feel we can fill in the gaps.
Player data
April 13, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) and offensive tackle Josh Simmons (71) compete during the first half of the LifeSports spring football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday.
Josh Simmons
Player background
Dec 29, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Josh Simmons (71) blocks Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Darius Robinson (6) during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Notable stats heading into the 2024 season
Nov 11, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Josh Simmons (71) and Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman Zion Young (9) have an altercation during the fourth quarter at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Notable PFF numbers
Sep 16, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Josh Simmons (71) gets a pat on the back from coach Justin Frye during the NCAA football game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 63-10.
Player strengths
Sep 2, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74), offensive lineman Josh Simmons (71) and offensive lineman Luke Montgomery (98) set up for a play during the NCAA football game at Indiana University Memorial Stadium. Ohio State won 23-3.
Power
Josh Simmons plays with an edge that is becoming of what you want an NFL tackle to be. He uses it to win reps and to take players out of plays by knocking them off balance or even as far as sending them to the ground. He specifically showcases this dealing with power rushers as he treats them like he would a blocking sled.
Physicality
The power gets him the edge to win with his balance and core strength, his physicality takes things to another level. Time and again on film I was seeing him drive defenders to the ground and ber merciless in his pursuit of them the whole play. He makes you play defense with 10 men, not 11, because when he gets the edge on someone he exploits it to the whistle.
Athleticism
Simmons plays tackle but I honestly could see him moving into guard. If he does, his athleticism will be a major factor. Even at tackle, he moves so well and is able to create running lanes and go with ball carriers down field. If he were asked to pull and become a lead blocker outside the hashes I truly believe he could do that as well.
Player summary
Sep 2, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Josh Simmons (71) lines up during the NCAA football game at Indiana University Memorial Stadium. Ohio State won 23-3.
Josh Simmons was a complicated study in this tackle class. He came from San Diego State where he was dominant but had some growing pains in the Big 10 last season. If Ohio State can get him more antiquated to handling the types of pass rushers and defenders he will be facing in the Big Ten. If he can do that, I will be overjoyed because he has the size and overall athletic traits you want from a tackle prospect. At the very worst, we could be looking at a day two guy who potentially moves inside to guard.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: 2025 NFL Draft Summer scouting: Josh Simmons, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State
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Publish date : 2024-08-08 15:48:00
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