The Chicago Bears' defense has been a disaster through three games.
The Bears are giving up 29.3 points per contest, which ranks in the bottom 10 in the NFL. Chicago sports the league's worst run defense, the No. 19 pass defense and the pass-rush has mustered up just five sacks, tied for the fourth-worst mark.
Chicago's offense has shown improvement in 2025, but not to the extent that it can overcome what the defense has done. As a result, the Bears should be looking for ways to improve its lackluster unit.
Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame has a suggestion on how to do that.
He proposes a trade with the Tennessee Titans that would land Chicago defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons in exchange for a second-round pick in 2026.
The arrival of Simmons would immediately improve the Bears’ defense, which needs pass rushers and run stoppers. Simmons excels in both areas and could form a dominant duo with edge rusher Montez Sweat. For years, the Bears’ defense has done the heavy lifting. Now that the offense is showing signs of improvement, the defense has regressed. Simmons can help balance out Chicago’s problems this season.
As Verderame points out, Simmons would provide a significant boost to both the pass-rush and run defense.
Simmons has a solid career run defense grade of 69.4, according to Pro Football Focus, and has tallied five sacks or more in each of the last four seasons.
In 2025, Simmons has two sacks and 17 pressures, with the latter mark ranking first among interior defensive linemen.
Simmons, who also brings an elite level of nasty, is the definition of a disruptor who is capable of drawing and taking on double teams, which helps free up his teammates.
While the Bears would almost certainly be open to adding an elite 28-year-old defender like Simmons, the Titans might not be willing to part ways. After all, Simmons is the only elite player on Tennessee's putrid roster.
That said, Simmons might be starting his decline by the time the Titans right the ship and acquiring the valuable pick he would garner in return would be assist Tennessee's rebuild, so it's something they should at least consider.
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