Bears Acquire Elite Pass Rusher Jeffery Simmons From Titans

The Chicago Bears traded their first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2028 to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round selection. The deal, announced on Thursday, also included a 2027 fourth-round pick moving from Chicago to Nashville.

Bears head coach Ben Johnson called the 29-year-old a proven run defender and disruptive pass rusher in a release. Johnson said Simmons’ leadership would create a positive impact across the entire team. The Bears are 5-2 and will play the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night.

Simmons has recorded four sacks in seven games this season. He leads all defensive tackles with 28 pressures, according to Next Gen Stats. He is the only player in the league with three sacks against double teams. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, he earned a first-team All-Pro selection last year after recording a career-high 11 sacks in 15 games.

Tennessee general manager Mike Borgonzi praised Simmons’ daily work ethic and leadership during the 18 months he has been with the team. Borgonzi called the trade decision difficult but noted the team’s current 1-6 record made it a tough choice. The Titans have not held a winning record since finishing 12-5 in 2021.

Titans coach Robert Saleh said teams would start shopping players when a squad loses close games. He stated that Chicago threw a hook big enough that the franchise could not say no. The Bears won the NFC North last year for the first time since 2018, finishing 11-6. They lost to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime in the divisional round.

Simmons was drafted by the Titans in the first round of the 2019 draft out of Mississippi State. He signed a contract extension in June that reportedly included $100 million guaranteed over three years. Bears general manager Ryan Poles and Johnson have maintained a constant dialogue about team needs leading up to the Nov. 10 trade deadline.