Bears send 2027, 2028 first-rounders plus a fourth for All-Pro Simmons

The Chicago Bears acquired defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, according to a person familiar with the deal. The trade sent the Bears’ first-round selections in 2027 and 2028 to Tennessee, along with a fourth-round pick in the upcoming draft. In return, the Bears received Simmons and a fifth-round selection in 2028. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the transaction had not yet been publicly announced.

Simmons is 29 years old and 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. His arrival addresses concerns about the quality of the Bears’ defensive line. Chicago has won its last two games to reach a 5-2 record. The team plays the Seattle Seahawks at home on Monday night.

The Bears are pursuing the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North. They captured the division title last season for the first time since 2018, finishing with an 11-6 record under head coach Ben Johnson. The team advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs after defeating the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card game. They subsequently lost to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime.

General manager Ryan Poles and Johnson view the high-cost acquisition as evidence that the roster is competitive for a Super Bowl. The franchise has not won the championship since 1985. Johnson noted on Wednesday that there was a lot of activity with the trade deadline approaching on Nov. 10. He stated that he and Poles maintain constant dialogue regarding the team’s needs for the current and future seasons.

Johnson described Poles as someone who turns over every stone to improve the football team. He expressed confidence in the process of evaluating the roster. The coach said he feels good about the direction of the team. The trade deadline is less than two weeks away. The Bears will test their new defensive alignment against Seattle in their next contest.

Simmons addressed the possibility of a trade on Wednesday. He stated that his daily goal is to focus on where his feet are at. He said he does not look ahead or worry about things he cannot control. He described those external factors as distractions. He maintained that his mindset remains consistent from game day to game day.