The Chicago Bears have traded two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and a fifth-round pick, signaling an all-in move to support a championship-caliber offense led by quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson.
Trade Details
The deal, completed Thursday, comes as the Bears sit 5-2 in the 2026 season despite Williams missing three games. Chicago's offense ranks among the top five to ten units in the league with Williams on the field, but the defense has been a liability: it ranks last in yards per play and explosive play rate allowed, though it sits 12th in success rate and EPA per play thanks to timely turnovers. The Bears went 11-6 in 2025 and reached the divisional round, but were 2-6 when they failed to force multiple turnovers and lost in the playoffs without a single takeaway.
Simmons' Impact
Simmons, 29, leads all interior defensive linemen in ESPN's pass rush win rate. He has 24 pressures (tied for third among interior linemen per PFF), four sacks (tied for most among defensive tackles), and 24 tackles (most among interior linemen). His presence is expected to elevate the interior pass rush and free up edge rushers, while making defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's blitz packages even more difficult to handle.
Offensive Context with Caleb Williams
Williams has taken a significant leap in 2026. His net yards per attempt rose from 6.6 to 7.6, completion percentage from 58.1% to 71%, off-target rate dropped from 14.6% to 6.5%, and EPA per dropback improved from 0.08 to 0.26 — all ranking in the top 10 league-wide. His EPA per dropback is fourth behind only Josh Allen, Jared Goff, and Brock Purdy. In a recent win over the Patriots, Williams threw for 308 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and eight completions of 20+ yards, tying the single-game season high.
Risk and Outlook
The trade price is steep — comparable to the Colts' 2025 deal for Sauce Gardner that backfired — but the Bears are betting on a proven superstar quarterback in Williams rather than an unproven one. Simmons is not a cure-all, but he joins a defense that could soon welcome back cornerback Kyler Gordon, safety Coby Bryant (knee), and edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo (quad). Chicago's division rivals, the Seahawks (Quenton Nelson) and 49ers (DeForest Buckner), also upgraded their interiors this week. The Bears now have a defensive force reminiscent of championship units like the Seahawks (Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy), Eagles (Jalen Carter), Chiefs (Chris Jones), and Rams (Aaron Donald). While the defense may not become elite, it must be capable of supporting a title-contending offense. The move carries huge risk but equally huge upside, giving Chicago a genuine chance to compete for a Super Bowl.
