The Tennessee Titans have made their biggest roster move since 2022, trading All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears in a blockbuster deal.
Multiple reports say the Titans will receive Chicago's first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, along with a 2027 fourth-round pick, in return. The Bears will also receive a 2028 fifth-round pick from the Titans in the trade.
Full trade details, per @AdamSchefter:
— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2026
- Bears receive DT Jeffrey Simmons and a 2028 5th-round pick
- Titans receive 2027 and 2028 first-round picks, and a 2027 fourth-round pick https://t.co/LyT2qvI3ZQ
For a 1-6 Titans team, the move represents a commitment to gaining assets to build for the future. However, parting ways with the franchise’s best player is a difficult
decision that they have had to make too many times in the last four years.
Since their last playoff appearance, the Titans have officially lost four core pieces essential to their last successful era. Wide receiver A.J. Brown was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, safety Kevin Byard to the Eagles in 2023, and running back Derrick Henry departed in free agency in 2024 for the Baltimore Ravens.
Now the Simmons trade joins that list and officially closes the final chapter of that era.
What does it mean?
The Titans have faced the reality that trading Simmons made more sense than keeping him because of what they got back. Securing two first-round picks in each of the next two drafts matters more than having an impactful defender, especially without the wins to show for the team as a whole over the last four seasons.
Unfortunately, the Titans have already watched Brown win a Super Bowl in Philadelphia, and Henry continue producing at an elite level in Baltimore. Byard even led the NFL in interceptions in 2025 with the Chicago Bears. Now, sending Simmons to a Super Bowl contender will make it harder for fans to accept.
Now, Tennessee is asking its fan base to trust another major decision involving a franchise cornerstone. With the new stadium opening next season, the pressure mounts for general manager Mike Borgonzi to hit on their upcoming picks to complete the rebuild.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Why Titans traded Jeffery Simmons to the Bears and what it means
