Bears Trade Two First-Round Picks for Titans' Jeffery Simmons
The deal sends Chicago's 2027 and 2028 first-round selections plus a 2027 fourth-round pick to Tennessee.
By Ethan Cooper ·
The Chicago Bears agreed to send two future first-round draft picks to the Tennessee Titans for All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons on Thursday, a deal that adds a four-time Pro Bowl selection to a defensive line that has been a weak point this season.
Chicago is giving up its 2027 and 2028 first-round picks along with a fourth-round selection in next year's draft. The Titans send Simmons and a fifth-round pick in 2028 back to Chicago. The trade arrives 11 days before the NFL deadline on Nov. 10.
Simmons, 29, has four sacks in seven games this season and leads all defensive tackles with 28 pressures, according to Next Gen Stats. He is also the only player in the league to record three sacks against double teams. He stands 6-foot-4, weighs 305 pounds, and was selected by Tennessee in the first round of the 2019 draft out of Mississippi State, where he played alongside Bears defensive end Montez Sweat.
Bears coach Ben Johnson said in a release that Simmons has proven to be one of the most impactful run defenders and disruptive pass-rushers in the NFL. Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi called the decision difficult, saying he has immense respect for how Simmons works daily. Titans coach Robert Saleh said that when a team sits at 1-6, other clubs start calling.
The Bears are 5-2 under Johnson, winners of two straight, with quarterback Caleb Williams. They play at Seattle on Monday night while chasing the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North. Chicago won the division last year at 11-6, its first title since 2018, then beat Green Bay in the wild-card round before losing to the Rams in overtime in the divisional round.
Tennessee enters Sunday's game at Cincinnati at 1-6 and has posted 3-14 records in each of the last two seasons. The Titans have not finished with a winning record since going 12-5 in 2021.
Simmons signed an extension in June that reportedly runs three years and includes $100 million guaranteed. He posted a career-high 11 sacks in 15 games last season and earned first-team All-Pro honors.
