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Two First-Round Picks for a Defensive Tackle

October 29, 2026

No defensive tackle had been traded for two first-round picks in the common draft era, the seasons since 1967. On Thursday, October 29, 2026, the Chicago Bears sent their 2027 first-round pick, their 2028 first-round pick, and a 2027 fourth-rounder to the Tennessee Titans for Jeffery Simmons and a 2028 fifth-rounder.21

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Simmons was the first defensive tackle in the common draft era to be traded for multiple first-round picks.21 Quarterbacks, edge rushers, and cornerbacks had been traded for two first-round picks; a defensive tackle had not.711 The full deal is in the Jeffery Simmons trade tree.3

The Player Tennessee Drafted on a Torn ACL

On February 12, 2019, two months before the draft, Simmons tore his ACL training for it. The Titans took him 19th overall anyway, in a draft held in Nashville. He debuted in October 2019 and sacked Philip Rivers in his first game.412

Simmons made four Pro Bowls (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025), earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2021 and 2022, and was a first-team All-Pro in 2025.4 In 2025 he set a career high with 11 sacks, the most by any defensive tackle in the league, with 57 quarterback pressures.2 He averaged 49 pressures a season from 2020 through 2025, and through seven games in 2026 he had four sacks and 28 pressures, the most of any defensive tackle — including 10 pressures and three sacks against double teams, both league bests.251

Simmons played nearly 90 percent of Tennessee's defensive snaps in 2026.2 His career line through the trade: 46.5 sacks, 414 tackles, and nine forced fumbles in 106 games.2

The Extension That Lasted Four Months

Tennessee had extended Simmons twice before the trade. The first extension was four years and $94 million in April 2023.4 In June 2026, the Titans extended him again: three years and $105.8 million, $100 million of it guaranteed, running through 2030.2 The deal briefly made him the highest-paid defensive tackle in football, at $35.28 million a year.1

GM Mike Borgonzi, announcing it, called Simmons "a pillar for our franchise" and "the premier defensive tackle in the National Football League," adding that "you win with players like Jeffery."2 Four months later, Borgonzi traded him.

Tennessee had already paid the bonus money, so Chicago inherited a comparatively friendly deal: $7.94 million for the rest of 2026 and $26.95 million in cash for 2027, per Albert Breer, with his guarantees fully paid out by the end of 2027.72 Simmons carries cap charges above $31 million a season starting in 2027.1 Tennessee's own cost for exiting is comparatively light: roughly $21 million in dead money in 2027.2

Why Chicago Paid It

The Bears were 5-2 on October 29, in second place in the NFC North, and chasing the franchise's first championship since the 1985 season — they had not reached a Super Bowl since the 2006 season.2 Quarterback Caleb Williams was still on his rookie contract, and Ben Johnson was the head coach.107

Chicago ranked ninth in points allowed and last in yards allowed per play, with a 37.9 percent pressure rate that ranked 12th.72 Chicago had traded Gervon Dexter to Atlanta in late August, and edge rusher Montez Sweat had just returned from a two-game suspension.2 Simmons reunited with Sweat, his Mississippi State teammate; both were first-round picks in 2019.1416

The Bears showed interest in DeForest Buckner and, per Ian Rapoport, made a serious effort to land him before San Francisco did.113 San Francisco acquired Buckner from Indianapolis on October 27 for a 2027 fourth-round pick.79 Chicago acquired Simmons two days later, on October 29. General manager Ryan Poles and Borgonzi go back to Boston College and to working together in Kansas City's front office.1

Why Tennessee Sold

Tennessee was 1-6 on October 29, coming off a 3-14 season in 2025, in Robert Saleh's first year as head coach, and had not won consecutive games since 2022; Simmons was 29.212

The trade gave Tennessee two first-round picks in each of the next two drafts — its own plus Chicago's — along with the extra fourth-rounder and added cap room in future years.7 Whether Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick in 2025, remained Tennessee's plan beyond 2026 was open as of October 29.12

Simmons was a five-time team captain and a three-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee in Nashville.6 "It was hard, really hard," Borgonzi said. "I don't think Jeff wanted to leave here, I thanked him for everything he's done here, on and off the field."6 Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement: "We are forever grateful for all he has given this team and this city."2

The Price List

No premier defensive tackle had cost more than one first-round pick before October 29, 2026. In 2020, Indianapolis sent the No. 13 overall pick to San Francisco for DeForest Buckner, then 26 — one first-rounder, high in the draft.9 In April 2026, Cincinnati traded the No. 10 overall pick straight up to the Giants for Dexter Lawrence — again, one first-rounder.1014 Dallas's deal for Quinnen Williams in November 2025 included its 2027 first-rounder — one first-rounder.1015 That was the position's ceiling for 59 years of the common draft era: one premium pick.2

Two firsts were reserved for other jobs. Micah Parsons and Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner moved in multi-first deals in 2025; the Rams acquired Myles Garrett in June 2026 for essentially the value of two first-rounders.7171819 Parsons and Garrett are edge rushers and Gardner is a cornerback; Simmons is the first interior lineman in that group.7171819

Simmons is only the third player the Bears have acquired for two first-round picks: Jay Cutler in 2009 and Khalil Mack in 2018 are the other two.11 Mack was a Defensive Player of the Year threat within his first month in Chicago in 2018; Cutler became one of the most-cited cautionary tales in franchise history.11

Buckner — the one-first defensive tackle of 2020 — was traded again in 2026, at 32, for a single 2027 fourth-round pick.79

The grades split. USA Today's For The Win graded it B for Chicago and A for Tennessee; theScore was harsher on the Bears at C+ while still giving the Titans an A; USA Today's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz liked the deal better for Chicago than for Tennessee.872 One NFC general manager, speaking to insider Jordan Schultz, said that with Simmons added, Chicago's defense paired with its offense "looks like a Super Bowl roster."11

The Ledger Opens

Tennessee holds two first-round picks in 2027 and two more in 2028. Chicago holds no first-rounder of its own in either draft, and in exchange has Simmons, the 2025 first-team All-Pro defensive tackle, under contract through 2030.724

Simmons's Bears debut was set for Monday night, November 2, in Seattle.12 The four picks in the trade — Chicago's 2027 and 2028 first-rounders, Chicago's 2027 fourth-rounder, and Tennessee's 2028 fifth-rounder — resolve in the 2027 and 2028 drafts.3

Trade terms, teams, and dates verified against the site's trade tree for this deal and cross-checked with the sources below.

Sources

  1. Pro Football Rumors: Titans trade DT Jeffery Simmons to Bears — official terms per Schefter; June 2026 extension briefly made Simmons the league's highest-paid DT ($35.28M AAV, through 2030, cap charges above $31M from 2027); Bears 5-2; Poles–Borgonzi connection; Buckner interest; Ward's future open
  2. USA Today: Bears land DT Jeffery Simmons in blockbuster trade — Schefter: first DT in the common draft era traded for multiple firsts; Bears 5-2, second in NFC North; Titans 1-6, no back-to-back wins since 2022; June 2026 extension $105.8M with $100M guaranteed; ~$21M Titans dead money in 2027; Borgonzi's June "pillar" quote; career stats (46.5 sacks, 414 tackles, 106 games); 2025's 11 sacks most by a DT; ~90% snap share; Middlehurst-Schwartz grades
  3. Football Trade Trees: 2026 Bears–Titans Jeffery Simmons trade tree — full trade terms
  4. Wikipedia: Jeffery Simmons — tore his ACL on Feb 12, 2019, drafted 19th overall anyway; NFL debut with a sack; Pro Bowls 2021/2022/2024/2025, second-team All-Pro 2021/2022, first-team All-Pro 2025; April 2023 four-year, $94M extension
  5. Bears Wire: Caleb Williams reacts to Bears' trade for Jeffery Simmons — Next Gen Stats: 28 pressures in 2026, most among defensive tackles, including 10 pressures and three sacks against double teams (both NFL bests)
  6. Bears Wire: Jeffery Simmons reacts to Titans trading him to Bears — Borgonzi: "It was hard, really hard"; Simmons didn't want to leave; five-time captain; three-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee
  7. theScore: NFL trade grades — Simmons, Nelson, Buckner — Bears C+, Titans A; Bears ninth in points allowed but last in yards per play; Breer contract breakdown ($7.94M rest of 2026, $26.95M cash in 2027); Parsons/Gardner/Garrett multi-first context; Buckner to the 49ers for a 2027 fourth
  8. USA Today For The Win: Jeffery Simmons trade grades — Bears B, Titans A
  9. Football Trade Trees: 2020 49ers–Colts DeForest Buckner trade tree — the No. 13 overall pick (which became Tristan Wirfs) for Buckner, March 2020; Chapter 3 carries Buckner's October 27, 2026 trade from Indianapolis to San Francisco for a 2027 fourth-round pick
  10. The Comeback: The Chicago Bears' trade for Jeffery Simmons made NFL history — Bengals traded No. 10 overall for Dexter Lawrence; Cowboys included their 2027 first-rounder in the Quinnen Williams deal (the two deals are dated April 18, 2026 and November 4, 2025 on their trade trees, sources 14 and 15)
  11. Swipe Sports: The Bears just bet two drafts on Jeffery Simmons — Simmons is only the third Bear acquired for two first-round picks (Cutler 2009, Mack 2018); an NFC GM to Jordan Schultz: with Simmons added, Chicago "looks like a Super Bowl roster"
  12. WSMV (via WVLT): Titans trading All-Pro Jeffery Simmons to Bears — 2026: four sacks, 38 tackles in seven games; 2025: 11 sacks, 67 tackles; Titans 3-14 in 2025; the 2019 draft was held in Nashville; Simmons's Bears debut set for Monday night, November 2, in Seattle
  13. Yardbarker: Bears have declared their Super Bowl window open — Rapoport: the Bears made a serious effort to acquire Buckner before the 49ers struck their deal
  14. Football Trade Trees: Dexter Lawrence (2026) trade tree — on April 18, 2026, the Giants sent Lawrence to Cincinnati for the No. 10 overall pick
  15. Football Trade Trees: Quinnen Williams (2025) trade tree — on November 4, 2025, the Jets sent Williams to Dallas for a 2026 second-rounder, a 2027 first-rounder, and Mazi Smith
  16. Football Trade Trees: Montez Sweat (2019) trade tree — the 2019 first-round pick (No. 26) Indianapolis sent to Washington became Montez Sweat
  17. Football Trade Trees: Micah Parsons (2025) trade tree — Dallas sent DE Micah Parsons to Green Bay for 2026 and 2027 first-round picks and Kenny Clark
  18. Football Trade Trees: Myles Garrett (2026) trade tree — Cleveland sent OLB Myles Garrett to the Rams in June 2026
  19. Football Trade Trees: Ahmad Gardner (2025) trade tree — the Jets sent CB Ahmad Gardner to Indianapolis for 2026 and 2027 first-round picks and Adonai Mitchell
Explore the trade tree behind this story:

About this article: it was drafted with AI assistance from the Football Trade Trees database and public reporting, then reviewed by a human editor. Spot an error? Email [email protected].