The Chicago Bears traded two first-round picks for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons on Thursday, with some pointing out that no such trade has worked out for a team since the Los Angeles Rams made a similar deal for Jalen Ramsey in 2019. How much did the Bears overpay for Simmons, if at all? And did the Rams do better by trading for Myles Garrett in the offseason or should they have waited until they were able to watch the season play out a little bit before making their move?
The Rams traded a 2027 first-round pick, pass rusher Jared Verse (a 2024 first-round pick), and more to the Cleveland Browns for Garrett coming off of a Defensive Player of the Year season with 23 sacks. It was a bold move to add a superstar regardless of position — one could easily argue that edge was not L.A.’s biggest need — and could have paid off during the early portion of the season.
Unfortunately, Garrett posted no stats in Week 1’s 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and has not played in the last six games. There is no clear return date in sight for Garrett, although that could change any week. When the Rams open Garrett’s 21-day window to be activated, there’s a good chance he will be ready to go by the following game given his age, experience, and amount of time off rehabbing a knee injury that he’s already had.
However, one could also argue that Simmons would have fit a much bigger need than Garrett and the Rams wouldn’t have had to sacrifice Verse.
That is, if you think that Verse is worth keeping—which hasn’t been clear in his first season with the Browns in which he has the same number of sacks this year as Garrett. Imagine what the Rams may have looked like this week against the L.A. Chargers if they had Jeffery Simmons — although now we can’t say for sure who else they would have had.
Does Aaron Donald still return? Are Kobie Turner and Poona Ford still injured? Is Jared Verse still in L.A.?
Another two trades that the Rams have not participated in during the season happened within their own division.
The Seattle Seahawks acquired Quenton Nelson and the 49ers acquired DeForest Buckner, with neither team giving up more than a third-round pick.
The Rams traded a first-round pick for Trent McDuffie before the draft, and a first-round pick plus more (including a conditional pick that could become a first) for Garrett. McDuffie has also missed the last two games.
Would Les Snead be better served waiting for more midseason trades — as he did for Ramsey in 2019 and Von Miller in 2021 — or is it fair game to hunt the market for players all year round like open season? Such as acquiring Matthew Stafford after the 2020 season.
The Rams have a good team now, albeit one that wishes they were better than 3-4.
McDuffie is trending to play this week, Garrett could return next week perhaps (although I have no proof of that), and Davante Adams may be back closer to six weeks than 10 weeks. A team with Garrett will not look like one that necessarily needs Simmons, and the Bears got no discount in trading two first-round picks to the Titans for a star defensive lineman anyway.
But Chicago does know better who they are when they make the trade, and that self-awareness could help them attack their weaknesses — and Quenton Nelson (Chicago plays Seattle on Monday) — sooner than the return of Garrett.
What would you prefer?
