adam

I did some research, Simmons is the first All-Pro selection from the previous year (1st Team AP All-Pro) to be traded in season the following year since Eric Dickerson in 1987. Dickerson was in a contract dispute and was part of a massive trade that included multiple 1st and 2nd round picks. The last defensive player was Fred Dean in 1981 at the age of 29, two years later he had 17.5 sacks at the age of 31. He was already traded due to a contract dispute.

Seemed logical considering the other numbers taken.

Depending on how you view the current roster, the Bears might only have one new starter in 2027, Jones at Center. Every other starter outside of Stevenson is under contract thru at least 2027. The SB window is now.

Lucky, The Bears were one play away from the NFCC game. The NFC is wide open, so you have to jump on these opportunities. Every team could have the same 100 scenarios play out and all you can do is give yourself the best chance. That's what the Bears did here. You can't play the "if" game. Then you might as well not even play. If you only plan for the worst possible outcome, you would never trade a player or sign a free agent because they might get injured. No one is "hoping" for a perfect scenario. The Bears are one of 4 teams in the top 10 in offense and defense while their QB missed 3 games. This makes the defensive performance going forward way more sustainable. Simmons is the Bears 2027 1st rounder, and he is already playing on the team before even being drafted. He is signed thru 2030 on a very fair deal. Technically, the Bears can get out of the deal after 2027 with zero dead cap (because TEN paid the bonuses). So this provides maximum flexibility going forward. On the flip side if the Bears do end up getting into deeper playoff runs, the deal is even better for the Bears because 2x picks around 30 are basically the same as an early 2nd rounder. I am not worried about the offense. The Bears have a young core that is as good as any other in the NFL (Caleb, Loveland, Odunze, Burden, Monangai, Wright, Trapilo, and Jones). The other missing piece is that the Bears haven't even benefited from Bryant playing yet, and just got Turner back. Now the young DTs VDB and Loving get to learn from an absolute beast.

Sounds like he is practicing today. Still doesn't feel real.

and some secondary connections, Poles trades for Sweat, teammates with Simmons at MSU. Poles also worked with TEN GM in KC. Full circle. Also, if they didn't trade Dexter, I don't think they make this trade.

Mack, Simmons, Jarrett, Sweat as your starting front-4 would be wild.

He wore 96 at MSU, but van den Berg has that. 99 would be cool. 98+1.

This will have a ripple effect across the entire defense. It is getting a more disruptive All Pro level Akiem Hicks, cost controlled for 4 years.

Not trying to cope about the picks because thats all they are but the Bears already have two extra 1st rounders from the last 3 draft classes, Odunze was the extra pick in 2024 and Burden is ultimately an extra one from 2025, so those picks are already on the roster.

Simmons has experienced a 10-46 record over his last 56 games. In only two of those games did his offense score 30 or more points. In 37 of those games, his offense scored fewer than 20. 2022 was his last playoff game, had 3 sacks, 3 TFL, and 8 tackles, and the Titans lost 19-16.

Bears now with the #1 and #18 DTs in PRWR. Grady is also #2 in Run Stop Win Rate.

DT pass rush win rate rankingsRank Name Team Wins Plays PRWR DT% 1 Jeffery Simmons TEN 33 124 27% 84% 2 Maason Smith ATL 25 95 26% 85% 3 Brandon Dorlus ATL 22 84 26% 78% 4 Alim McNeill DET 37 146 25% 84% 5 DJ Reader NYG 16 71 23% 73% 6 Zach Allen DEN 26 134 19% 80% 7 Walter Nolen III AZ 15 81 19% 73% 8 Braden Fiske LAR 14 76 18% 78% 9 Osa Odighizuwa SF 22 120 18% 79% 10 Byron Murphy II SEA 19 108 18% 78% 11 Jonathan Allen CIN 17 97 18% 76% 12 Milton Williams NE 18 103 17% 79% 13 Calijah Kancey TB 15 86 17% 74% 14 Arik Armstead JAX 18 104 17% 81% 15 Dexter Lawrence II CIN 19 110 17% 88% 16 Moro Ojomo PHI 16 94 17% 80% 17 Leonard Williams SEA 16 95 17% 85% 18 Grady Jarrett CHI 19 116 16% 71% 19 Vita Vea TB 15 94 16% 81% 20 Calais Campbell BAL 15 96 16% 83%

Secondary effect? Simmons played two years with Sweat as MSU. Maybe that will motivate Sweat a little bit?

I can't even imagine where the Bears would be right now, if not for that play.