Bears trade two first-round picks for Jeffery Simmons

The Chicago Bears traded their first-round picks in the 2027 and 2028 NFL Drafts to the Tennessee Titans for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. The exchange, completed on Wednesday, adds a high-profile veteran to a roster that features a strong offense and a defense ranked 31st in DVOA before the trade.

Simmons serves as a pass-protection disruptor, a role that head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen have sought for several years. The Bears had a great offense but lacked a specific type of interior presence. By acquiring Simmons, they immediately improve their lineup while sacrificing future draft flexibility.

This transaction mirrors the strategy used by the Bears in 2018, when general manager Ryan Pace sent two first-round picks, a third, and a sixth to the Raiders for Khalil Mack. That deal also included a second-round pick and a conditional late-round pick. The Bears received Mack, a 27-year-old edge rusher who had won Defensive Player of the Year two years prior.

The outcome of the Mack trade proved mixed. In his first season, Mack forced a fumble and recorded an interception for a touchdown against the Packers. He finished with 12.5 sacks and a second-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The Bears went 12-4. However, Mack missed 10 games in 2021 due to a foot injury and never again recorded 10 sacks or earned first-team All-Pro honors. The team eventually traded him to the Chargers for a second-round pick that became safety Jaquan Brisker.

History suggests that trading multiple first-rounders for a single star carries inherent risks. The surety of a current player often outweighs the uncertainty of future picks, but those picks do not always fall in the bottom half of the round. The Bears used their 2019 and 2020 first-rounders to select tight end Cole Kmet and offensive lineman Arlington Hambright. The Raiders used their picks to select running back Josh Jacobs, cornerback Damon Arnette, and wide receiver Bryan Edwards.

The Titans are now in possession of the two first-round selections. This move acknowledges that the team is not close to winning with Simmons on the roster. The franchise will have additional cap space to spend elsewhere and the opportunity to select in the draft. The success of the trade for Tennessee depends on landing high-value players with those picks, such as a franchise quarterback.

For the Bears, the trade limits their ability to add cost-controlled talent through the draft in the coming years. They must now build a successful roster around Simmons with fewer options. The team is betting that the immediate impact of the player is worth the long-term constraint on their roster construction.

The Bears play their next game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. The Titans face the Indianapolis Colts on the same day. Both teams will look to adjust their strategies following the personnel changes.