Bears Trade Two First-Round Picks to Titans for Jeffery Simmons

The Chicago Bears have acquired defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick, with Tennessee also sending a 2028 fifth-round pick to Chicago, the Bears announced on Thursday, Oct. 29. The Titans' team website reported that the agreement was pending a physical.

According to ESPN, citing ESPN Research, it is the first time in the common draft era, which began in 1967, that a defensive tackle has been traded for multiple first-round picks. The deal came 12 days before the league's trade deadline, which ESPN's trade tracker lists as Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. ET.

Simmons' record and contract

The Bears said Simmons, a three-time AP All-Pro, was named first-team All-Pro last season after leading all NFL interior defensive linemen with a career-high 11.0 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. According to the team, his 72 career tackles for loss are tied for the third-most by any interior defensive lineman since he entered the league in 2019, and his 46.5 sacks rank fifth among interior linemen over that span. The club said he has started 104 of his 106 regular-season games and set a Titans single-game franchise record with 3.0 sacks in a 2021 AFC Divisional Round game against Cincinnati.

Tennessee selected Simmons in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he was named to four Pro Bowls during his time with the franchise, according to the Titans. ESPN's trade tracker reported that Simmons, 29, signed a three-year, $105.8 million extension with $100 million guaranteed with the Titans in June and is under contract through the 2030 season.

How the deal came together

Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi told reporters Thursday that the team had not been trying to move its star defensive lineman. "At no point anytime since I've been here did we ever try to trade Jeffery Simmons," Borgonzi said, as quoted by ESPN. "We've gotten a lot of phone calls on Jeff really since I've been hired here, but it's never really crossed my mind." He said the offer came in a call late Wednesday from Bears general manager Ryan Poles, adding, "We considered the compensation, and it was too good to pass up." ESPN reported that the two executives worked together in the Kansas City Chiefs' personnel department from 2009 to 2021.

Borgonzi said Poles was "really the only person who came out and said 'would you accept this?'" according to Pro Football Talk, which reported that Borgonzi accepted the offer after speaking with Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk on Thursday morning. The outlet noted that Simmons had told reporters Wednesday afternoon that he had not heard anything leading him to expect a trade. ESPN reported that the Titans, who are 1-6, are projected by ESPN's Football Power Index to hold the No. 1 pick, while the incoming 2027 Bears pick is projected at No. 26.

Titans head coach Robert Saleh described the move bluntly. "It sucks. Everything about it sucks," Saleh said, according to USA Today. The newspaper reported that Borgonzi dismissed the notion of a fire sale, saying he had "not picked up the phone once" to seek offers on any players. The Titans' website reported that the team is now scheduled to have four first-round picks across the next two drafts.

Bears' reasoning

In the team's announcement, Poles said, "We are fortunate to have the opportunity to add a player, and a human, like Jeffery to our team, and we look forward to Jeffery's leadership and command as we continue to work toward sustained success." Head coach Ben Johnson said in the same release, "Jeffery is one of the most respected players in the National Football League."

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Poles said he had asked Borgonzi about Simmons before, FOX 32 Chicago reported. "The answer on him was always no," Poles said. "I honestly didn't think it would ever happen." He also said, "You do this type of move when you have a combination of impact player on the grass as well as someone who can impact your culture." According to the station, Poles noted that Super Bowl champions dating back to 2018 have all had a high-level defensive tackle.

Context around the league

ESPN reported that the 5-2 Bears now have the second-best chance to win the NFC at 13%, according to ESPN Analytics, behind the San Francisco 49ers at 39% and ahead of the Seattle Seahawks at 11%. Both of those teams made trades on Tuesday: the Indianapolis Colts agreed to send defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to San Francisco for a 2027 fourth-round pick and guard Quenton Nelson to Seattle for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, according to Pro Football Talk's deadline tracker. ESPN also reported that Chicago ranked 23rd in pass rush win rate from interior defenders this season, and that the Bears' next game is a road matchup against the defending-champion Seahawks.