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. In exchange for Simmons, the Titans will 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 the 29-year-old defensive lineman.
Bears bolster Super Bowl aspirations
Chicago (5-2) adds a four-time Pro Bowler who earned All-Pro honors last season with career highs of 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. Simmons has recorded four sacks in the current campaign. The move signals the Bears' belief they can contend in a division that includes the 6-0 Minnesota Vikings and keeps pace with the San Francisco 49ers, who recently acquired DeForest Buckner. Analysts graded the trade an A- for Chicago, noting the steep price but acknowledging the franchise's all-in approach.
Titans accelerate rebuild with draft capital
Tennessee (1-6) receives two first-round picks for a non-quarterback, a return compared to the Dallas Cowboys' haul for Micah Parsons and exceeding the Cleveland Browns' package for Myles Garrett. However, the Titans did not receive an immediate impact player in return. The trade underscores a season that has fallen far short of expectations after the league's highest offseason spending. With Simmons departed, questions surround the future of other veterans such as running back Tony Pollard, who scored three touchdowns in last week's overtime loss to Cleveland. The Titans' draft history raises concerns about maximizing the new assets, and the deal effectively concedes the remainder of the 2024 season.
