Bears pay two first-rounders to land All-Pro tackle Simmons

The Chicago Bears acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans on Thursday. The trade, confirmed by a person familiar with the deal, involves the Bears surrendering their first-round selections in 2027 and 2028. They also sent a fourth-round pick in next year’s draft. In return, Chicago received Simmons and a fifth-round selection for 2028.

The deal was not yet officially announced when the person spoke to The Associated Press. That individual requested anonymity because the contract details had not been finalized in public.

Chicago enters Monday night’s match at Seattle with a 5-2 record. The team has won two straight games under quarterback Caleb Williams. They currently trail the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North. The front office has long viewed the defensive line as a weak point. Adding a proven interior player addresses that gap directly.

Head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles took a similar approach last year. Chicago won the division for the first time since 2018. The Bears finished that season with an 11-6 record. They beat the Green Bay Packers in a wild-card game before falling to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime during the divisional round. This move signals a continued push for the franchise's first Super Bowl since 1985.

Johnson discussed the trade deadline on Wednesday. He noted that there was “a lot going on” as the Nov. 10 cutoff approached. He described the process as one of constant dialogue with Poles. “That’s certainly Ryan’s domain, and yet we have constant dialogue of what this team needs,” Johnson said. “He’s turning over every stone that he possibly can to improve this football team just like he has ever since I’ve gotten in this building and I feel really good about our process.”

Simmons is 29 years old and recorded four sacks in seven games this season. Last year, he set a career high with 11 sacks in 15 games and earned a first-team All-Pro nod. When asked about potential moves before the deadline, he focused on the present. “Each and every day I wake up, my goal is to just be where my feet are at,” Simmons said. “I don’t worry about the things I can’t control. Them types of things are a distraction.”

The Bears are scheduled to play the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. The trade deadline for the NFL is set for Nov. 10. No further roster moves were announced immediately following the report of the Simmons acquisition.