Bears Trade: Chicago Acquires Jeffery Simmons to Aid Defense
Chicago sent two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick to acquire the interior lineman, bolstering a defense that ranks last in yards per play allowed.
By Pedro Tanaka ·
The Chicago Bears made a major move for defensive help ahead of the trade deadline, acquiring Jeffery Simmons to support a team built around quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson. The Bears currently hold a 5-2 record despite Williams missing three games and part of a fourth. Chicago's offense has performed well when Williams is on the field, but the defense has struggled to contain opposing attacks. The unit ranks last in the league for yards per play allowed and explosive play rate allowed. While the defense ranks 12th in success rate and EPA per play, Chicago sits at 29th in yards per play allowed for the 2025 season. That 2025 team relied heavily on forcing turnovers to compensate for defensive weaknesses. The Bears finished 11-6 that year but posted a 2-6 record in games where they did not force multiple turnovers. The season ended in the divisional round against the Rams when the defense failed to record a single turnover. To address these issues, the Bears traded two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick to acquire Simmons, while sending a fifth-round pick in return. Simmons leads all interior defensive linemen in ESPN's pass rush win rate and has recorded four sacks, a figure tied for the most among defensive tackles. He also leads all interior defensive linemen with 24 tackles, with his 24 pressures tied for third-most at the position according to PFF's categorization. His ability to draw double teams is expected to create opportunities for edge rushers and for the blitzes called by Dennis Allen. Chicago has also seen the return of Kyler Gordon, whose blitzing has altered the defense. Safety Coby Bryant, acquired during the offseason, is expected to return from knee surgery before the season ends, as is EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo. Williams is coming off a performance against the Patriots where he completed 22 of 33 passes for 308 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. During that game, he recorded eight completions of 20 or more yards, a total tied for the most by any player in a single game this season. His EPA per dropback ranks fourth, trailing only Josh Allen, Jared Goff, and Brock Purdy. Simmons is 29 years old. The Bears went 59-37 against the Panthers in Week 1.
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Source: CBS Sports
