Bears acquire Jeffery Simmons for two first-round picks

The Chicago Bears acquired defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans in a trade that sends Tennessee two first-round picks and additional draft compensation, bolstering Chicago’s defensive front during the 2026 season. The Bears will send their first-round selections in 2027 and 2028 and a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Titans. Chicago will also receive a 2028 fifth-round selection. The trade was reported by people familiar with the agreement and by NFL reporters; a formal team announcement was not included in the reports. Simmons, 29, had four sacks in seven games this season. He earned first-team All-Pro honors last season after recording a career-high 11 sacks, and has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times. His arrival reunites him with former college teammate Montez Sweat and places him alongside defensive tackle Grady Jarrett in Chicago’s interior defense. The move addresses a Chicago defensive line that had produced uneven results against both the pass and the run. ESPN Research reported Simmons had a 27% pass-rush win rate in 2026, the highest among NFL defensive tackles, while Chicago’s interior defenders ranked 23rd at 13%. Those figures indicate...