The 2026 NFL trade deadline is still a few weeks away. But that has not stopped several teams from pulling off huge trades to improve themselves right away. Chicago joined the NFC arms race by acquiring DT Jeffery Simmons from Tennessee on Thursday. The Bears were rumored to be interested in defensive line talent, but it is shocking to see them land a superstar like Simmons.
The price tag is one reason why this trade is so surprising. Chicago traded two first-round picks (2027 and 2028) and a 2027 fourth-round pick to acquire Simmons. The Bears have gone all in assuming that Simmons will make a huge difference on defense. If he lives up to expectations, Chicago could become legitimate Super Bowl contenders for multiple seasons.
Meanwhile, the Titans traded arguably their best player amid another disastrous season. There is bound to be speculation that Tennessee is entering yet another rebuild despite already being in the middle of one. Still, gaining a mountain of draft picks is always a good thing.
So which team came out on top in this one? Or was this a good move by both teams who are in very different situations?
Here are trade grades for the Bears and Titans after their shocking blockbuster deal.
Chicago goes all in Jeffery Simmons as final piece of their defense
The Bears made a big bet that Simmons will help take their defense over the top. Will the veteran DT be worth the price?
First-round picks are obviously an extremely valuable asset in the NFL. They retain their value well and can be used to acquire talented rookies, or in this case established superstars. However, not all first-round picks are created equal.
Chicago is already an NFC contender at 5-2. If the Bears do what everyone expects and make another deep playoff run, their first-round pick this year will be quite late. As such, it is not nearly as valuable as a top 10 pick. Barring disaster, the Bears should be able to get by just fine without those draft picks. That makes this deal look much better for Chicago once fans can get past the sticker shock.
As for the player, Simmons is still playing at an elite level. The 29-year-old logged 11 sacks with three forced fumbles in 2025, making it arguably his best career season. If he can be that disruptive in Chicago, this trade will certainly be worth it.
Simmons comes with a massive contract that ties him to Chicago through the 2030 season. He only carries a $7.94 million cap hit this season, but it jumps to $22.55 million in 2027. That figure will only increase, capping at $33.10 million in 2030.
When combining the draft picks and the contract, the Bears still paid a ton for Simmons. Expectations will be just as high for a Bears team with Super Bowl aspirations.
This makes the trade a bit of a double-edged sword for Chicago. Anything short of elite production from Simmons will make this trade look foolish. But if Simmons is the player the Bears expect, this move could change everything for the organization.
Kudos to GM Ryan Poles for making a gutsy move.
Grade: B
What does the Jeffery Simmons trade mean for the future of the Titans?
This trade is quite easy to understand from Chicago's point of view. But what does it all mean for Tennessee?
Article Continues BelowThe Titans are not in a great position at 1-6 heading into Week 7. They have showed signs of life in recent weeks, beating the Colts and playing a competitive game against the surging Browns. Despite this, the Titans are still one of the worst teams in the NFL and will face some huge questions during the upcoming offseason. This Simmons trade clearly changes the complexion of those conversations.
On one hand, the Titans seemingly made this deal because the compensation was too good to pass up.
Simmons is the first defensive tackle in the common draft era (since 1967) to be traded for multiple first-round picks, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. That makes the return for Simmons a truly historic package. It is difficult to conclude that GM Mike Borgonzi is simply giving up on the team. He just said yes to an obvious trade.
Now the Titans have nine selections in the 2027 NFL Draft, with all of their own picks plus the Bears' first- and fourth-round picks. Tennessee's pick should be at the top of the draft, which puts them in an excellent position. If the Titans want to move on from Cam Ward, they can easily draft a new quarterback. Or if they want to take a page from the Bears and trade that pick, they could gain even more value.
Ultimately, the grade for the trade itself has to be high. But what this means for the organization is still a complete unknown.
Grade: A+