Bears trade two first-round picks for top defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons
Chicago sends 2027 and 2028 first-round selections to Tennessee in a move that leaves the Titans with significant future draft capital.
By Carlos Rousseau ·
The Chicago Bears have traded two first-round picks to the Tennessee Titans for defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons. The deal was announced on Wednesday, October 28, and completes a week of major personnel changes in the NFC South.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Bears receive Simmons along with a 2028 fifth-round pick. In return, the Titans acquire the Bears' 2027 first-round and fourth-round picks, as well as the Bears' 2028 first-round pick. The exchange of two top selections for a non-quarterback position player marks a substantial shift in Chicago's long-term asset allocation.
Simmons is 29 years old and entered the 2026 season as a first-team All-Pro selection. He recorded 15 sacks in the 2025 campaign, the highest total for a defensive tackle in the league during that period. The Bears enter Week 8 with only one sack from their interior defensive line, a statistical gap the team hopes Simmons will immediately address.
Tennessee general manager ran a fire sale this week alongside the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts, who also moved key veterans. The Titans now hold two first-round selections in the next two years. Bryan DeArdo, a CBS Sports analyst, graded the Bears' portion of the trade an A-, noting that the risk is only justified if Chicago wins the Super Bowl. He assigned the Titans a C+, citing the team's historical difficulty in maximizing draft capital.
Simmons will make his debut with the Bears on Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks. The game will feature a matchup against Quenton Nelson, who was traded from the Indianapolis Colts to Seattle earlier in the week.
Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers host the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night in Green Bay. The Packers sit at 4-3 and are last in the NFC North. The Panthers are 3-3 and look to hold their divisional lead after a 30-point loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Green Bay is missing offensive linemen Travis Glover and Sean Rhyan due to knee and ankle injuries, respectively. Carolina will play without linebacker Jaelan Phillips, who is dealing with a hamstring issue. The Panthers have allowed 153.2 rushing yards per game this season, while the Packers average 59.8 yards per carry on the ground, the lowest in the league.
Five CBS Sports writers projected a Green Bay victory in the Thursday night contest. Jared Dubin picked the Packers 24-17, while John Breech projected a 30-23 win. Jordan Dajani, Tyler Sullivan, and Pete Prisco all also selected the Packers to cover, with score predictions ranging from 20-27 to 31-24.
