The Titans receive two first-round picks and additional draft compensation in a deal that signals just how far they believe they are from contention.
By PAUL KUHARSKY
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans have dealt their All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears in exchange for first-round picks this year and in 2028.
Adam Schefter was first on the deal and I’ve confirmed it and secured the compensation details. The Titans also get a 2027 fourth-round pick, and give the Bears a 2028 fifth.
The deal acknowledges just how far away the team is from being competitive and how much more talent it needs to get there.
Simmons has been superb at his job, raising an already excellent game a level in 2025 and sustaining that play this year. But the Titans won four of the last 24 games with him playing at that level.
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What the Titans Lose
The Titans are left with John Franklin-Myers as their No. 1 inside defensive lineman. He was supposed to thrive because Simmons drew so many double teams, but it has not panned out that way. Solomon Thomas will get additional time, with Wednesday waiver claim Jonah Laulu factoring in along with Nazir Stackhouse.
Simmons will improve the Bears and could mean their first-round picks are in the high 20s. Currently, the Titans would draft second and Chicago is projected to draft 28th – playoff teams’ draft position is determined by when they lose.
Simmons Leaves a Leadership Void
Simmons certainly led by example with his high-quality play. I thought he was overstretched as the No. 1 leader of a team, but it wasn’t his fault that so many quality leaders disappeared around him.
The last time the Titans were good, the roster also included Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill, Kevin Byard, Logan Ryan and Ben Jones, who all carried big pieces of the leadership burden.
Simmons said Wednesday he had not heard anything from his agent or the team about a trade possibility.
“I could be that type of guy and say I want out, or I could be that type of guy that could stay here and my leadership and everything turn things back around where I know we can get back to it,” he said. “So 
I think that's been my mindset: what can I do to help influence this team. …It's not one of the things where I'm showing up and saying I want to be anywhere else. My thing is I'm just going to continue to show up and be the best person I can be. And everything else will take care of itself.”
Simmons is a four-time Pro Bowler who broke through as a First-Team All-Pro last season. The Titans drafted him 19th overall in 2019, coming off a torn ACL coming out of Mississippi State.
He has 46.5 sacks in nine seasons with 72 tackles for a loss, 32 passes defensed and nine forced fumbles.
Mike Borgonzi is likely to talk later this morning. Stay tuned for further updates.
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