In recent seasons, "close to the entire league" has inquired about trading for star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, a Tennessee Titans source told ESPN. The Titans brushed off all inquiries until the Chicago Bears made a proposal based on the Myles Garrett trade framework. Bears GM Ryan Poles called Titans GM Mike Borgonzi, his former Kansas City colleague, to reopen negotiations Tuesday night.
The trade sent Simmons to Chicago in exchange for two first-round picks and a 2027 fourth-round pick. The Titans viewed Jared Verse as the equivalent of a first-round pick for comparative purposes. As the Titans mulled the offer, they felt they needed to accelerate roster growth with more draft capital.
The Bears studied Super Bowl champions since 2018 and noticed each had an elite defensive tackle, believing Simmons could make that type of difference. They reviewed other blockbuster trades and decided they would be willing to part with three picks. Poles knows there will be more pressure to hit on remaining picks, but the Bears pushed in all their chips; the Titans took their big one off the table, and the NFL had its latest blockbuster that will be analyzed for seasons to come.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing