Bears trade two first-round picks for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons

The Chicago Bears acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans in a trade finalized Thursday. The deal exchanged two first-round draft picks, from 2027 and 2028, along with a fourth-round selection in 2027, for Simmons and a fifth-round pick in 2028.

A person familiar with the negotiations confirmed the terms to The Associated Press. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the transaction had not yet been officially announced by either team.

The Bears hold a 5-2 record following back-to-back victories. They lead the NFC North division, currently trailing the undefeated Minnesota Vikings. The addition of Simmons addresses a unit that had shown inconsistency on the defensive line. Chicago won the division title last season for the first time since 2018, finishing with an 11-6 record under head coach Ben Johnson.

The franchise advanced to the divisional round in the previous playoffs. The Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers in a wild-card game before falling to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime. The move signals that Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles believe the roster is capable of winning the franchise's first Super Bowl since 1985.

Johnson stated on Wednesday that the team is evaluating its options as the November 10 trade deadline approaches. "That’s certainly Ryan’s 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," Johnson said. He added that Poles is "turning over every stone that he possibly can to improve this football team."

Simmons, 29, has recorded four sacks in seven games this season. He earned first-team All-Pro honors last year after posting a career-high 11 sacks in 15 games. When asked about potential trade scenarios on Wednesday, Simmons said he focuses on the present moment. "I don’t worry about the things I can’t control," he said. "Them types of things are a distraction."

The Bears are set to play on Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks.