Bears Send Multiple Draft Picks To Titans For Jeffery Simmons

The Chicago Bears have moved to bolster their defensive line by trading for All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans.

The Titans are receiving 2027 and 2028 first-round picks and a 2027 fourth-round pick; the Bears are receiving a 2028 fifth-round pick with Simmons.

According to ESPN Research, Simmons is the first defensive tackle in the common draft era to be traded for multiple first-round picks.

Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said he had no intention of trading Simmons until receiving a call the night before the trade from Bears general manager Ryan Poles. Borgonzi and Poles worked together for the Kansas City Chiefs. The offer was the first one that made Borgonzi consider trading the All-Pro defensive tackle.

“At no point anytime since I’ve been here did we ever try to trade Jeffrey Simmons,” Borgonzi said. “We’ve gotten a lot of phone calls on Jeff really since I’ve been hired here, but it’s never really crossed my mind. And I got a phone call late last night from a person that I’ve known for a while, Ryan Poles … We considered the compensation, and it was too good to pass up.” 

Borgonzi said he spoke with Titans head coach Robert Saleh about the trade on Wednesday night and they agreed it was a good move.

“I told our guys, when you don’t close out games, and you’re standing here at 1-6, teams are going to start fishing,” Saleh said Thursday. “And eventually a team threw a hook big enough that I don’t think any of us could have said no to.”

Simmons has been the Titans team captain for six consecutive seasons, this season he has recorded four sacks, six tackles for loss and four passes defended all lead the team this season through seven games.

“There are few people like Jeff Simmons. We are forever grateful for all he has given this team and this city. His formidable presence on the field was surpassed only by what he did off it. He gave Nashville more than football. The Give ‘Em A Reason Foundation has changed lives in Middle Tennessee and in Mississippi, and I have no doubt it will continue to wherever he goes. Jeff — thank you. For how you played, how you led, and how you represented our team,” Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement.   

The addition of Simmons has upgraded a struggling Chicago defensive line that has failed to generate pressure since Dennis Allen was hired as defensive coordinator in 2025.

Under Poles, this trade is considered one of the most aggressive; the last aggressive trade was when the Bears traded away the first overall pick to Carolina for wide receiver DJ Moore and four draft picks. One of those picks would become the first overall pick the next year, when the Bears selected Caleb Williams.

The Titans and Simmons agreed to a three-year $105.8 million contract extension that guaranteed $100 million before the start of the season. After the Titans dropped to 1-6, Simmons’ name popped up around the league as a potential trade target ahead of the upcoming deadline.

Before the trade, Simmons told reporters he had no indication he would leave Tennessee anytime soon.

“Each and every day I wake up, my goal is to be where my feet are at,” Simmons said. “I’m never looking ahead, just being in the moment each and every day. I don’t worry about the things that I can’t control. Those types of things are also a distraction – that’s a lot of fans and outside media. I haven’t heard anything from my agent; I haven’t heard anything from this organization. As far as I know, I am going to be here.”