Titans Trade Star Defensive Tackle Jeffery Simmons to Bears for Two First-Round Picks

The Tennessee Titans have traded defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears, according to reports on Thursday morning. In return, Tennessee will receive first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2028 along with a fourth-round pick in 2027. Chicago will also receive a fifth-round selection in 2028 as part of the agreement.

Simmons has been one of the central figures on Tennessee's defense since the Titans selected the former Mississippi State player with the 19th overall pick in the 2019 draft. The 29-year-old developed into a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a reigning first-team All-Pro. Through seven games this season, he had recorded 38 tackles, six tackles for loss and four sacks. He signed a three-year extension in June worth $105.9 million, a contract that now runs through the 2030 season with Chicago.

For the Bears, the move addresses a clear weakness on a team built around head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams. Chicago won the NFC North in 2025, Johnson's first season in charge, and pushed the Los Angeles Rams to overtime in the divisional round of the playoffs. Its defense has struggled this year, however, ranking last in the league in yards allowed per play at 6.3 and 30th in net yards per pass attempt at 7.4. Simmons gives that unit an established interior presence as Chicago tries to contend for a Super Bowl.

For Tennessee, the trade marks the departure of a cornerstone player but brings in a substantial collection of future draft choices. The two additional first-round picks give the Titans more resources to rebuild the roster in the coming years, though replacing a player of Simmons' production and stature on the defensive line will be a major challenge.