Lachavious
Simmons.
Lachavious
Simmons.
Tennessee St.
"Chicago made Tennessee State's long-armed guard-tackle the only HBCU player drafted in 2020, and his length kept him on NFL practice squads for four years, with one career start."Pre-draft read
Simmons was a left guard and left tackle in Tennessee State's offense, a 6-5, roughly 310-pound lineman who started all 12 games in 2019, seven at guard and five at tackle. His primary trait was length: arms over 35 inches let him lock out defenders, control the rep from a distance and recover when his feet were late in pass protection.
His secondary trait was raw power as a drive blocker in the run game. In pass protection he flashed a strong punch but needed work on his footwork and pad level. His athletic ceiling was solid for his size, and his signature was the length of an NFL tackle in a developing FCS guard.
Gap and duo run scheme that lets a long, powerful lineman drive-block and use his reach to control defenders in pass protection.
Year 1: practice squad developmental lineman. Ceiling: backup swing tackle and guard on game day.
Wide zone scheme that asks him to move laterally and reach quick defenders on the move from a tall stance.
His length gave him a chance to develop, but his technique needed years of work.
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Simmons projected as a long-term development project whose rare length and FCS production made him a late-round flier. Evaluators saw a big, long lineman with real tools at guard or tackle, but one who needed significant coaching on technique after playing against Ohio Valley Conference competition.
He became a starter as a junior in 2018, making six starts at left guard, then started every game in 2019 at left guard and left tackle for an offense that averaged more than 400 yards per game. He earned first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors and played in the College Gridiron Showcase and the Hula Bowl. The flags were the level of competition, high pad level, inconsistent footwork and only a season and a half as a full-time starter.
Most boards treated him as a priority free agent rather than a draftable lineman. Chicago took him at No. 227 as a developmental swing lineman, and he was the only player from a historically Black college or university selected in the 2020 draft.
- 01
Rare length
Arms over 35 inches let him lock out defenders, control reps from a distance and recover when his feet were a step late.
- 02
Positional versatility
Started seven games at left guard and five at left tackle in 2019, giving teams a backup who could play inside or out.
- 03
Run-game power
Moved defenders off the ball as a drive blocker, using his size and strong hands to create movement at the point of attack.
- 04
Durability
Started all 12 games in 2019, one of only seven Tennessee State players to start every game that season.
- 05
All-star showing
Played in the College Gridiron Showcase and the Hula Bowl, giving scouts a look at him against better competition.
- 01
Level of competition
Faced Ohio Valley Conference defensive linemen, leaving questions about how his technique would hold up in the NFL.
- 02
High pad level
Played tall and lost leverage against shorter, powerful defenders, which let them get under his pads and drive him back.
- 03
Inconsistent footwork
His feet were slow to set in pass protection, forcing him to rely on his length to recover against speed rushers.
- 04
Limited experience
Started only a season and a half at Tennessee State, giving evaluators a small body of work to project from.
| Yr | Team | G |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Tennessee State | — |
| 2019 | Tennessee State | 12 |
| Career | — | 12 |
Offensive linemen carry no statistical line, so only games and starts are recorded. Tennessee State confirms 12 starts in 2019 (seven at left guard, five at left tackle) and six starts at left guard in 2018; his 2018 game count and earlier reserve seasons are unverified.
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
The realized outcome: a developmental swing lineman who lived on practice squads.
Long, athletic small-school lineman who developed into a Pro Bowl tackle.
Long-armed small-school tackle who never moved past the practice squad.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Simmons was cut at the end of the 2020 preseason and spent most of his rookie year on Chicago's practice squad before a late promotion to the active roster. He appeared in two games in 2021, including his only NFL start, then stayed with the Bears into 2022 before moving to Arizona's practice squad for 2022 and 2023. He spent time on Tennessee's practice squad in 2023 and 2024 and played for the UFL's Birmingham Stallions in 2025.
In hindsight the pick returned about what a No. 227 selection usually does. His length and power kept him on NFL practice squads for four seasons with three teams, which is more than many small-school linemen manage, but the technical gaps evaluators flagged never closed enough to earn a steady game-day role. He finished his NFL career with two regular-season games and one start, all in 2021. He was a developmental bet whose tools never fully caught up to the demands of NFL line play.