Bears Trade Two First-Round Picks and Fourth for All-Pro DT Jeffery Simmons

The Chicago Bears made a big-time move before the Nov. 10 trade deadline. 

According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the Bears are sending two first-round picks (2027 and 2028) and a 2027 fourth-rounder to the Tennessee Titans for All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery and a 2028 fifth-round pick. 

Simmons, 29, has been one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL since he was selected No. 19 overall in 2019. He is a four-time Pro Bowler and has earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2021 and 2022. Last season, Simmons earned first-team All-Pro honors and was named to the Pro Bowl for his 11-sack season that featured 67 combined tackles, three forced fumbles and three passes defensed. 

His stellar play has been consistent throughout his career in Tennessee. He's now in his eighth season in the league, and ranks first among defensive tackles in solo tackles (24). His 28 total quarterback pressures is sixth for defensive linemen. His four sacks is tied for the fourth-most in the NFL. 

According to SumerSports, Simmons is the only interior defensive lineman "to clear the 95th percentile in pressures, sacks, run stops, tackles for loss and QB hits over the last 3 seasons."

Here is a look at Simmons total stats since 2019. 

Simmons has the most defensive snaps among defensive linemen (399), and his 26 stops rank second, just behind Houston's Will Anderson Jr. (28). 

The Titans signed Simmons to a three-year, $105.8 million extension, with $100 million guaranteed. But with the team's 1-6 record, the organization decided to move on from Simmons to recoup draft capital.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson was asked about his role at the trade deadline during Wednesday's media availability. 

“There's a lot going on," Johnson said. "That's certainly (General Manager) Ryan's (Poles) domain, and yet we have constant dialogue of what this team needs and where we can impact ourselves not just this year but years in the future as well. 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. We'll see what happens. You never know."

The Bears decided to focus their attention on acquiring a difference-maker on the interior defensive line, which benefits everyone on defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's unit. 

Going into the Week 8 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football, the Bears ranked eighth in sacks (19), but were 20th in total quarterback pressures (85). Simmons immediately helps in that category as he will naturally require more attention from opposing offenses. 

Bears general manager Ryan Poles doesn't make this big-time trade if he doesn't believe his team has a legitimate shot to compete for Super Bowl. There was some major draft capital sent to the Titans in exchange for Simmons. This trade highlights the confidence Poles has in Johnson, quarterback Caleb Williams and the rest of this Bears roster. 

The Bears will face the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field to conclude Week 8 of the NFL season on Monday Night Football. Seattle recently traded for All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, making the primetime games a lot more interesting now that the Bears have one of the best defensive players in football.