The Chicago Bears made the biggest trade before the deadline by acquiring Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.
The Bears would send first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, as well as a fourth-round selection in 2027, to the Titans for Simmons and a fifth-round selection in 2028.
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Simmons, 29, is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and is coming off a first-team All-Pro season in 2025, earning him a three-year extension worth $105.8 million this offseason.
This deal significantly changes the paths of both franchises in the short and long term. Who got the better end of the deal? Let’s get into the details.
Bears attack fences, but at a high cost
The Bears seemed serious about improving their talent before the trade deadline, with reported interest in DeForest Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts before he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. With the Simmons deal, the Bears took an even bigger dive — and the price reflected it.
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By shipping their next two first-round picks and one fourth-rounder next year, the Bears will be shipping major assets over the next two years. This trade sends a clear signal that the Bears are going to go all out this season.
Simmons remains in the prime of his career, having just turned 29 at the start of training camp, and should have several prime years left in him. He played 425 of the Titans’ 490 defensive snaps (86.7%), which is about as high a percentage as you’ll see for an interior player.
The Titans have used him as a one-gap penetrator, but he’s capable of matching up with just about any technique right off the bat. He is a high-level runner and elite stopper who always demands and attracts double teams at a high rate. In his Week 6 game against the Colts, Simmons often faced multiple blockers, but finished with a game-high seven pressures.
This should be a huge addition for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s undermanned front. Grady Jarrett, Neville Gallimore and Kentavius Street have taken the majority of the interior snaps, with rookie Jordan van den Berg also replacing him. The results were poor.
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The Bears’ defensive ranking may seem impressive on the surface (eighth in yards allowed, 10th in points), but on a play-by-play basis, they are ranked near the bottom in several categories. What saved the Bears was an offense that had the ball for an average of 35:30, or more than three minutes per game in front of the nearest team.
Chicago’s schedule is brutal down the stretch, and they’re going to face some impressive offenses, including two games left against the Lions, as well as tough tests against the Jaguars and Bills. Simmons and a few other defensive reinforcements might be enough to stabilize things from the start.
The Bears recently got Montez Sweat back from suspension, and he will certainly benefit from Simmons’ arrival. This is a big step for Sweat, who has a major ceiling next season and needs to finish strong to prove his worth. The team also picked up Shemar Turner recently and plans to eventually get Dayo Odeyingbo back. With a full cast, this line could go from an overall below-average group to a possible team strength.
In terms of value, that’s almost the compensation you’ll see moved for a defensive player. But if the Bears make a Super Bowl, the price tag could very well make the decision smart.
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Grade: B
Titans get tremendous draft value for Simmons
It’s never easy to get rid of an elite talent like Simmons, especially for a team like Tennessee that only has a limited number of high-value players. There’s a reason the Titans paid him handsomely this offseason: Simmons is an elite defender coming off a career year.
He’s also played well amid the Titans’ struggles this season, despite receiving extra attention on many snaps. The offenses came in most games against them with a plan for Simmons. Now the Titans lose this, a major blow for defensive head coach Robert Saleh.
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But assuming Saleh is back next season, the Titans will have ample resources to use to improve the roster. They’re 1-6 and headed for a top-10 finish (and likely a top-five draft pick next spring). The Bears’ pick is expected to be lower, likely in the bottom third of the first round, but they will now have six picks in the first four rounds and plenty of flexibility to target what they want.
With Cam Ward having another uneven start, that could even include the quarterback – this season or next. Landing the 2028 first-rounder also gives the Titans a two-year window with major assets to protect themselves in case Ward isn’t the QB they thought he would be when they drafted him first overall. If he succeeds, those picks could be allocated to other positions, including a defense that just lost a major enforcer.
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It probably would have been too difficult for general manager Mike Borgonzi to turn down the offer. He probably had several teams bidding and was able to get the Bears to the price point they were comfortable with. Adding a fourth round in 2027 for a fifth in 2028 was a good sweetener.
The Titans are facing a multi-year rebuild, and this was the best way to contribute to that effort. They have more needs today than yesterday, and the picks are just lottery tickets, but this felt like a deal Borgonzi had to make.
Grade: A-
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