Bears Eye Jeffery Simmons as the NFC Arms Race Heats Up

The Bears are 5-2, fresh off a statement win over the Patriots, and the NFL's Nov. 10 trade deadline is bearing down on them. Around the league, the NFC has already started throwing haymakers: the Seahawks landed eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson from the Colts, and hours later the 49ers brought DeForest Buckner back to San Francisco for a 2027 fourth-round pick.

Chicago was one of two teams that reportedly kicked the tires on Buckner. They didn't get him. Now the question every Bears fan is asking is whether Ryan Poles makes a swing of his own — and the name at the top of the list belongs to the Tennessee Titans: three-time All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.

The Bears Are In the D-Tackle Market

This isn't fan fiction. NFL insider Albert Breer reported that the Bears "are in the D-tackle market," and head coach Ben Johnson didn't exactly pour cold water on the idea when asked about the deadline this week.

"There's a lot going on," Johnson said. "Certainly Ryan's domain, and yet we have constant dialogue of what this team needs and where we can impact ourselves, not just this year, but years in the future as well. He's turning over every stone that he possibly can to improve this football team."

Why the urgency? Look at the defensive front. Chicago's sack leader right now is cornerback Kyler Gordon, who has played fewer than 50 snaps this season. That is not a typo. Montez Sweat is back from his suspension, Shemar Turner is off the PUP list, and Grady Jarrett is a solid interior piece — but the Bears still do not have a defensive lineman who scares an opposing coordinator on third down.

Simmons does.

Why Simmons Is the Prize

The numbers make the case better than any highlight reel:

• 27% pass rush win rate through Week 7, first among all qualified defensive tackles, per ESPN metrics
• A 98.9 impact grade from Pro Football Network, tops among defensive tackles
• Four sacks in seven games, putting him on pace for another double-digit season after posting 11 last year
• Only 29 years old, with defensive tackles routinely playing at an elite level into their mid-30s

He's a run-stopper and a pass rusher in one body. Slot him next to Jarrett with Sweat coming off the edge, and the Bears suddenly have a front that can hold up against Detroit and Green Bay instead of just surviving them.

What a Deal Would Actually Cost

This is where it gets complicated, and it's why a trade hasn't happened yet.

The draft capital. ESPN's Bill Barnwell listed Simmons as worth a first-round pick and more. Tennessee, sitting at 1-6 and staring at yet another top-10 selection, would likely want a first-rounder plus a Day 2 pick, and possibly a player or late-round sweetener on top. Multiple first-round picks isn't out of the question.

The money. Simmons signed a three-year, $105.8 million extension in June. Spotrac's Mike Ginnitti mapped out the projected cash commitments for a team acquiring him:

| Season | Cap Figure | | --- | --- | | 2026 | $7.9M | | 2027 | $26.9M | | 2028 | $29.8M | | 2029 | $28M | | 2030 | $32M |

The 2026 number is a bargain — $7.9 million for a player of this caliber is the kind of rental that wins a Super Bowl. The problem arrives in 2027 and beyond, right when Caleb Williams is due a massive extension. Poles would have to get creative with the cap, and he'd be doing it in one of the last years Chicago has a franchise quarterback on a cost-controlled rookie deal.

Simmons Isn't Asking Out

Credit Simmons for handling the noise like a pro. Asked about the speculation on Oct. 28, he made it clear nothing has been communicated to him.

"I don't worry about the things that I can't control," Simmons said. "And those type of things is also a distraction. I mean, that's a lot of fans and outside media. I haven't heard anything from my agent. I haven't heard anything from this organization. As far as I know, I'm gonna be here."

He added that he'd rather stay and lead than ask his way out: "I can be that type of guy and say, 'I want out,' or I can be that type of guy that could stay here in my leadership and everything to help turn things back around."

Translation: no trade request, no locker-room drama. If a deal happens, it will be the Titans deciding to cash in, not Simmons forcing his way to Chicago.

The Cheaper Alternatives

If the price for Simmons is too steep, the Bears have options:

• Grover Stewart, Colts DT — a rock-solid veteran who would probably cost only a Day 3 pick and immediately start in Chicago
• Khalil Mack, Chargers EDGE — the most persistent Bears rumor of the season, with multiple insiders reporting serious Chicago interest
• Josh Sweat, Cardinals EDGE — a pure pass rusher who would pair with Montez Sweat (no relation)
• Jermaine Johnson II and Alontae Taylor, Titans — both flagged by ESPN as fits for the Bears, and both far cheaper than Simmons

Bottom Line

The Bears are legitimate contenders with a defensive line that is, charitably, a work in progress. The Packers pushed their chips in for Micah Parsons. The Lions and Vikings aren't going anywhere. Seattle and San Francisco just made championship moves this week.

As of Thursday morning, no Simmons trade has been reported — this is a pursuit, not a done deal. But the Bears have the cap room, they have the motivation, and the deadline is Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. ET.

Poles has spent three years building this roster patiently. Now the rest of the NFC is telling him it's time to stop being patient.