Titans trade Jeffery Simmons to Bears in blockbuster deal

The Tennessee Titans traded interior defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, a three-time All-Pro, to the Chicago Bears for the Bears’ 2027 and 2028 first-round selections and a 2027 fourth-round pick, with a 2028 fifth-rounder also moving to Chicago. The agreement was reached after Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi, who grew up scouting alongside Bears GM Ryan Poles, evaluated comparable past trades and determined the compensation was unprecedented for an in-season deal.

Borgonzi and Poles first met as young scouts living in the same Kansas City apartment in 2009, a connection that later facilitated negotiations. After weeks of inquiries from other teams, Borgonzi indicated the Titans would consider a trade only if the return matched the value the Rams received for Myles Garrett, which included multiple high-round picks. Poles responded with the Bears’ 2027 and 2028 first-rounders, and the parties adjusted the fourth-round pick to align with their valuation.

Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk approved the transaction, and Simmons’ agent was informed before the player was notified. Simmons expressed disappointment at the move, but Titans head coach Robert Saleh emphasized that the decision was a business one and assured Simmons of his lasting place in the franchise’s history.

The trade gives the Titans a substantial cache of draft capital to accelerate their rebuild, while the Bears add a premier defensive tackle to a roster that already includes a rookie quarterback and a strong division standing. Analysts note that the deal ranks among the most significant returns for a mid-season trade in recent NFL history.