The Tennessee Titans have traded All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears in a blockbuster deal ahead of the NFL trade deadline. The Titans receive Chicago's 2027 and 2028 first-round picks plus a 2027 fourth-round selection, while the Bears also acquire a 2028 fifth-round pick alongside Simmons.
Simmons, 29, has earned four Pro Bowl selections since 2021 and was named an All-Pro last season after posting career highs of 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. The move signals Chicago's all-in push for a Super Bowl, as the Bears sit at 5-2 atop a competitive NFC North that includes the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings. Tennessee, at 1-6, enters another rebuild and faces questions about other veterans such as running back Tony Pollard.
Trade grades
Analysts graded the Bears' acquisition an A-, praising the franchise for matching the San Francisco 49ers' recent addition of DeForest Buckner and drawing parallels to the 49ers' 1981 trade for Fred Dean, which sparked a championship run. The Titans received a C+; while the draft capital is substantial, the return lacks an immediate impact player, and Tennessee's history of maximizing draft picks remains a concern.
