Bears trade two first-round picks for Jeffery Simmons

The Chicago Bears sent their first-round selections in 2027 and 2028, plus a fourth-round pick next year, to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and a fifth-round pick in 2028. The move was confirmed by a person familiar with the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday. The individual requested anonymity because the agreement had not yet been publicly announced.

Simmons, 29, has recorded four sacks in seven games this season. Last year, he earned a first-team All-Pro selection after posting a career-high 11 sacks in 15 games. His arrival adds depth to a defensive line that had been inconsistent earlier in the season.

The Bears sit at 5-2 after winning two straight games. They face the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night. The team trails the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North. Chicago won the division title last season for the first time since 2018. Coach Ben Johnson led the squad to an 11-6 record in his first year. The Bears eliminated the Green Bay Packers in a wild-card game before falling to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime in the divisional round.

General manager Ryan Poles and Johnson view this trade as a step toward winning the franchise's first Super Bowl since 1985. Johnson addressed the team's activity ahead of the November 10 trade deadline on Wednesday. He said there was "a lot going on" behind the scenes.

"That’s certainly Ryan’s domain, and yet we have constant dialogue of what this team needs and where we can impact ourselves not just this year but years in the future as well," Johnson said. "He’s turning over every stone that he possibly can to improve this football team just like he has ever since I’ve gotten in this building and I feel really good about our process. We’ll see what happens."

Simmons addressed the potential trade on Wednesday. He said his focus remains on the present. "Each and every day I wake up, my goal is to just be where my feet are at," Simmons said. "Never looking ahead right now, it’s just be in the moment, and that’s from each and every day, from game day, my goal just never changes. I don’t worry about the things I can’t control. Them types of things are a distraction."

AP freelance reporter Teresa M. Walker contributed to the original report.