Chicago Bears defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons is heading to the Windy City after the Chicago Bears completed a blockbuster trade with the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, giving up two first-round picks in one of the biggest deals of the NFL season. The Titans confirmed the terms on Thursday, pending a physical, according to the club and NBC Sports.
Tennessee receives Chicago’s first-round picks in 2027 and 2028 plus a 2027 fourth-round pick, while Chicago receives Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick, according to the Titans’ announcement. Simmons, 29, was a first-round pick of the Titans in 2019, a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a five-time team captain, the club said.
Why Chicago paid such a high price
The Bears are 5-2 and clearly believe their window is open now. Simmons, a First Team All-Pro last season, signed a three-year extension in July worth a reported $105.8 million, keeping him under contract through 2030, according to NBC Sports. That long-term control, rather than a short rental, helps explain why Chicago was willing to pay two first-rounders.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, cited by theScore, the deal marks the first time in the common draft era that a defensive tackle has been traded for multiple first-round picks. That context shows just how rare this kind of move is — and how highly the Bears rate Simmons as an interior disruptor.
Why Tennessee said yes at 1-6
The Titans, at 1-6, are rebuilding. General manager Mike Borgonzi said Simmons did not want to leave the franchise, according to theScore, but the trade came together late on Wednesday night after a call from Bears general manager Ryan Poles. Tennessee now holds two first-round picks in 2027, including its own high pick, plus another first-rounder in 2028.
Simmons had said on Wednesday that, as far as he knew, he was going to stay in Tennessee, according to Athlon Sports. Less than 24 hours later he was traded, a reminder of how quickly the trade market can move when a contender is willing to pay a premium and a rebuilding club decides the return is too good to refuse.
What happens next for both teams
Chicago adds Simmons to a defence that already features Montez Sweat, his former Mississippi State team-mate, according to reports of the deal. Tennessee, meanwhile, returns to action on Sunday at the Cincinnati Bengals, according to the Titans, with a roster now built much more openly around future draft capital. The NFL trade deadline is November 10, so both clubs still have time for further moves, but this deal is already the headline of deadline season.
