The Tennessee Titans and the Chicago Bears pulled off a blockbuster NFL trade, with the Titans sending over All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Bears for two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick. Here are the five biggest winners from that blockbuster trade.
Winners of the Jeffery Simmons Trade
5. Dennis Allen, Bears DC
The veteran Bears defensive coordinator will most certainly find creative ways to employ Simmons and what other players on the defensive line can do often gets attention he will command. Allen has been doing a good job with the Bears defense through two seasons despite not having much of true game-changing talent on that side. Now, with Simmons in the fold, Allen won’t need to blitz as much to create pressure.
4. The Bears’ Super Bowl Chances
The Bears have provided themselves a boost to their Super Bowl chances. With a player like Simmons, who can take over games, that could be the piece they need to separate themselves in a tough NFC where teams are also making moves around them. Teams like the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, and San Francisco 49ers have made significant upgrades to their rosters, whether through offseason or midseason additions.
It is very clear that NFC teams are positioning themselves to make a run at the Super Bowl, and the Bears are doing their part to give themselves the best shot possible at reaching it this season.
3. Mike Borgonzi, Titans GM
The Titans’ General Manager was able to sell high on Simmons, which sets the Titans’ future up well as they continue to build out a contender around 2025 top pick Cam Ward. Simmons is 29 years old, and though he is one of the best players at his position, being able to haul in two first-round picks for him is as good as it is going to get in a return.
Borgonzi will enter the offseason with a chance to fully embrace his vision for how he and head coach Robert Saleh want the roster to look. The four first-round picks over the next two drafts also give him a chance to pivot from Ward if things don’t work out there.
2. QB Caleb Williams
More stops and turnovers from the Bears defense will get Caleb Williams more chances with the ball in his hands. With him and Ben Johnson as a tandem, that is dangerous for any opponent they line up against. He has missed a couple of games due to injuries, but despite that, Williams has been off to the best start of his career. He continues to ascend each week, and the way Williams has been playing shows the confidence the Bears have in his ability to take them to the Super Bowl, given their all-in trade for Simmons.
Williams led the Bears to the NFC Divisional round last season, and a better finish this season isn’t out of the question.
1. DT Jeffery Simmons
After having to play with a Titans organization that had not seen much success lately and had gone through three coaching changes over the last four years, Simmons gets a chance to play for what looks to be an NFC contender in the Bears. The Bears had been sniffing around for potential defensive help and were able to land one of the better players at his position in Simmons.
Simmons will be an immediate upgrade to the Bears’ defensive line. With the offense the Bears have, Simmons will have more opportunities to chase opposing quarterbacks, especially in the leads the Bears will hold throughout the rest of the season.
Main Image: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
