Banks did miss the SEC championship game with an ankle injury, but with 42 FBS starts under his belt, the 6-foot-4, 320-pound tackle should have no problem acclimating to head coach Andy Reid’s offense.
OT Josh Simmons | Ohio State
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has the Chiefs taking an offensive tackle with their first-round pick as well, but believes it will be Simmons instead. Like Kiper, Jeremiah also doubts Moore’s ability and thinks Simmons could be a better option at left tackle.
Of course, he’ll have to prove he’s healthy. Simmons suffered a torn patellar tendon in mid-October but appears to be ahead of schedule in his recovery. He expects to be ready for the start of the 2025 season, per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, who also reported that Simmons’ medical reviews went well during the combine.
Fox Sports’ Rob Rang also has the Chiefs drafting Simmons, calling him “the most physically gifted left tackle in this class,” but at pick No. 24 after trading up with the Minnesota Vikings.
DE James Pearce Jr. | Tennessee
More recently, si.com writers named the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Volunteer as the team’s best option for the 31st pick. Pearce had 19.5 sacks and 71 tackles in three years with Tennessee.
Writer Hondo Carpenter believes Pearce, “will make Chiefs Kingdom ecstatic with his relentless athleticism and pursuit of the quarterback.”
His 19 percent pressure rate ranked second in the FBS last season and his 40-yard dash (4.47) was fastest among defensive ends at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he earned the fourth-highest score among edge-rushers.
The Chiefs took DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah with the 31st pick in 2023 but he’s played on just 25 percent of defensive snaps (550) since joining the team, 86 more than Pearce had last season.
Mike Danna, the team’s fifth-round pick, is currently the starter at right defensive end but would likely take a back seat to Pearce if selected.
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