Bears acquire defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in trade, GM emphasizes draft focus
Chicago traded two first-round picks for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, signing him through 2030, while general manager Ryan Poles said the team remains committed to building through the draft and undrafted free agents.
Chicago completed a midseason trade that sent two first-round selections to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who is under contract through 2030. The move aims to bolster the Bears' defense immediately and for the long term.
"One thing I want to hit, I know it’s kind of a joke that goes around, but ‘F them picks’ is like a big thing — that’s really not what we’re about," GM Ryan Poles told reporters. "I know it took a lot to get this done, but we absolutely believe that the draft and bringing in young talent is the way you sustain success around here."
Poles added that the organization will continue to maximize the value of its remaining draft picks, undrafted free agents, and any free-agency opportunities within its constraints.
"His intensity that he brings to the football field, he has a certain standard of how you play this game. He lives that. He models that behavior," Poles said, noting that Simmons' presence is expected to influence the team's culture positively.
Simmons posted a career-high 11.0 sacks last season, the first double-digit total of his career, and has recorded four sacks, six tackles for loss, and nine quarterback hits in seven games of the 2026 season. The Bears anticipate he will be available for the upcoming Monday night game against the Seattle Seahawks.