Jeffery Simmons Trade 2026: Bears Send Two Firsts to Titans

The Chicago Bears gave up their 2027 and 2028 first-round picks and a 2027 fourth-round pick on Thursday to get All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans, per ESPN. Chicago also receives a 2028 fifth-round pick. ESPN Research says Simmons is the first defensive tackle since 1967 traded for multiple first-round picks.

Jeffery Simmons Trade 2026: The Terms

Here is the full swap as ESPN reported it on Thursday, Oct. 29.

Bears get: DT Jeffery Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick

Titans get: the Bears' 2027 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick and 2027 fourth-round pick

Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said Bears GM Ryan Poles called the night before and that the offer was the first that made him consider moving Simmons. Borgonzi also said: "At no point anytime since I've been here did we ever try to trade Jeffrey Simmons."

ESPN says Poles had never before traded multiple first-round picks.

What Chicago Is Buying

Simmons is 29 and has played his entire career in Tennessee after being drafted in the first round in 2019. Over eight seasons he has 46.5 sacks, 72 tackles for loss and 96 quarterback hits, and he is a former first-team All-Pro. He set a career high with 11 sacks last season.

This season, through seven games, he has 4 sacks, 6 tackles for loss and 4 passes defended, all team highs. ESPN Analytics, citing NFL Next Gen Stats, puts his pass rush win rate at 27 percent as a defensive tackle, the highest in the NFL in 2026.

Since 2019, ESPN Research ranks him second among defensive tackles in sacks, behind DeForest Buckner, and tied for first in forced fumbles with 9.

Where the Bears Were Weak

The Bears are 5-2, and ESPN's numbers show where the defense was struggling. Chicago's interior pass rush win rate this season is 13 percent, 23rd in the league. With four or fewer rushers, the Bears have generated pressure on 25 percent of dropbacks over the past two seasons, the fourth-lowest rate in that span.

ESPN notes the line has struggled since Dennis Allen became defensive coordinator in 2025. The Bears' defense is still ninth in points allowed and eighth in yards allowed, and its third-down defense is the best in the NFL, with opponents converting 26.1 percent. On early downs it ranks 32nd in defensive EPA per play and 32nd in explosive plays allowed.

Simmons will reunite with defensive end Montez Sweat, his Mississippi State teammate. Bears coach Ben Johnson said Poles is "turning over every stone."

The Contract Chicago Inherits

Simmons signed a three-year extension before the season worth $105.8 million with $100 million guaranteed, running through 2030. ESPN's cap breakdown has Chicago taking on the remaining $7,944,444 of his 2026 compensation. For 2027 the cap charge is $22.55 million, with $21.45 million in salary and a $5.5 million option bonus.

His 2028 salary of $29.8 million becomes guaranteed if he is on the roster on the fifth day of the 2027 league year.

Betting Impact: Bears NFC Odds

ESPN's futures feed carries DraftKings prices for the NFC champion market. The feed has no timestamp, so we cannot say whether these prices already include the trade. We pulled them on Friday, Oct. 30.

San Francisco 49ers: +260

Seattle Seahawks: +550

Los Angeles Rams: +660

Minnesota Vikings: +680

Chicago Bears: +720

Chicago is fifth on that board, behind a Minnesota team that is 6-0 and has a plus-51 scoring margin, per ESPN's standings. The same feed lists the Bears at +1200 to win the Super Bowl. ESPN Analytics gives the Bears a 13 percent chance to win the NFC, second to San Francisco at 39 percent and ahead of Seattle at 11 percent. Those are model numbers, not betting lines.

For our full division board, see NFC North odds 2026.

The Titans Side

Tennessee is 1-6. ESPN's FPI projects the Titans to pick first overall in 2027, and the Bears' 2027 pick is projected at No. 26.

Titans coach Saleh said: "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." The Titans plan to rotate veterans Solomon Thomas and John Franklin-Myers at defensive tackle.

What to Watch Next

The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10, and this was not the only move this week. On Tuesday the 49ers acquired Buckner and the Seahawks acquired guard Quenton Nelson from the Colts, which we covered in our Colts trade breakdown. Chicago's quarterback, Caleb Williams, becomes extension-eligible after this season.

The first number to track is the Bears' interior pass rush win rate once Simmons is in the lineup, since it started at 13 percent. Full details are in ESPN's trade report. StatSniper's AI sports picks page tracks the weekly slate, and Chad AI breaks down every prop inside the app.

FAQ

What did the Bears give up for Jeffery Simmons? Their 2027 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick and 2027 fourth-round pick. They also get a 2028 fifth-round pick back from Tennessee, per ESPN.

How much is Jeffery Simmons' contract? Three years, $105.8 million with $100 million guaranteed, signed before the season and running through 2030, per ESPN.

What are the Bears' odds to win the NFC? +720 on DraftKings per ESPN's futures feed, fifth on the board behind the 49ers, Seahawks, Rams and Vikings. The feed carries no timestamp.

When is the 2026 NFL trade deadline? Nov. 10, per ESPN.

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