In addition to Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, the Green Bay Packers are also hosting Buckeyes offensive tackle Josh Simmons on an official pre-draft visit on Monday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Simmons is currently the No. 25 overall player on the consensus big board. The Packers, who can bring in up to 30 players for pre-draft visits, currently hold the No. 23 overall pick in the first round.
Simmons, a San Diego State transfer, started 19 games at right tackle and another 19 games at left tackle during his collegiate career. He does have an injury red flag after tearing the patellar tendon in his knee during the 2024 season, which caused him to miss the final 10 games of Ohio State's national title run.
According to Pro Football Focus, Simmons allowed only a single hurry -- and no quarterback hits or sacks -- across 158 pass-blocking snaps and six games in 2024. He allowed only one sack and 15 total pressures during his first season as the starting left tackle in Columbus in 2023.
From Lance Zierlein's draft profile of Simmons: "An athletic tackle prospect with adequate size and length, Simmons has experience starting on both sides. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in mid-October, so his recovery and timetable for return will need to be vetted. He’s a consistently fluid mover both inside the box and when asked to play in space, and he has the slide quickness to compete against NFL edge speed. He’s more positional than powerful in completing his run-blocking tasks, but he can fit into all schemes. Improved hand placement and latch-in strength can help better control opponents in both the run and pass games. Simmons can still be susceptible to twists and counters in pass pro, so he might need a year to continue honing his craft in that area before he is ready to take on NFL pocket hunters."
The Packers used a first-round pick last April on Jordan Morgan, who is expected to compete for the starting job at left tackle. And Zach Tom, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft, played a Pro Bowl level at right tackle and is in line for a lucrative contract extension, possibly as soon as this summer. However, offensive tackle is a premium position, and the Packers are attempting to safeguard their investment at quarterback in Jordan Love, so an offensive tackle can't be ruled out -- especially considering the unique versatility of the players already on the Packers' offensive line.
It's likely the Packers are hosting a group of players -- including Egbuka and Simmons -- on visits to start this week. The draft is in Green Bay in two weeks.
Packers Wire is tracking all of the team's pre-draft visits ahead of the 2025 draft here.
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