New Bears DT Jeffery Simmons Understands Chicago’s Super Bowl Goal: ‘They Want It Now’ | Latest NFL News, Analysis and Updates

A wary Bears fan might point to the trade as a major risk. In theory, this is the case: sending high-value future picks elsewhere in exchange for talent who can instantly improve an area the Bears need is a win-now decision that carries the possibility of mortgaging the future for the present.

Much of this fear exists in a hypothetical realm, however; First-round picks are as valuable as the players a team spends its picks on.

Poles believes his front office has proven itself worthy of making such a decision, and he expects his personnel department to capitalize on the team’s remaining picks.

“One thing I want to address, I know it’s kind of a joke going around, but like ‘F-the picks,’ it’s an important thing,” Poles said, referring to the Los Angeles Rams’ win-now team-building style. “It’s really not our goal. I know it’s taken a long time to get there, but we absolutely believe that the draft and recruiting young talent is a way to sustain success here. I challenge myself and our team, for the picks we have, we have to hit.

“We have to be excellent with our undrafted free agent process and whatever level of free agency we work in that will have constraints that we will have to meet as well. We have a good track record, it continues to improve every year, so I have a lot of confidence that we will be able to achieve that, and again, maintain success.”

These are largely the problems of tomorrow. It’s Week 8 of the 2026 season, the Bears are 5-2 in a very competitive NFC North, and they need to be as strong as possible if they hope to repeat as division champions. The Poles made the Simmons trade with that in mind, and when the paperwork was filed with the league office in New York, Simmons quickly understood the intent.

“My game, my passion, my energy, my leadership, I can only help this team even more than what they have,” he said. “This is a great locker room, from the quarterback all the way down. My job is not to come in here and be nothing but myself. I’m excited to be able to help this team compete for a championship. That’s the goal of every team in the NFL. I think right now, with the way this team has competed — I’ve watched these guys from afar — it’s a great team, a great locker room and I’m excited to do my part to help this team to achieve its goal.