The Chicago Bears are facing the prospect of receiving multiple blockbuster trade offers for the coveted No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. This potential trade could bring significant returns, possibly even securing another star player for their defense. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell has put forth an intriguing trade scenario involving the Bears sending their top pick to the Tennessee Titans. In return, Barnwell suggests the Bears could acquire the Titans’ seventh overall pick, a second-round pick in both the 2024 and 2025 drafts, and the two-time All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.
Barnwell highlights the Bears’ surplus at quarterback with Justin Fields on their roster, making the acquisition of another quarterback, such as Will Levis, less relevant. The uniqueness of this proposed trade lies in the inclusion of Jeffery Simmons, a standout defensive tackle who could provide the interior disruption that the Bears’ defense urgently needs. Simmons, a 26-year-old with an impressive track record of 21.5 sacks and 31 tackles for loss over the past three seasons, would seamlessly fit into Matt Eberflus’ defensive scheme as a three-technique defensive tackle. The addition of Simmons, combined with existing talent like Sweat, could create one of the most formidable defensive fronts in the NFL.
However, the Bears would need to navigate the financial aspects of Simmons’ substantial contract, valued at $94 million over the next four seasons. Despite this challenge, the Bears have approximately $46.87 million in cap space for 2024, with the possibility of freeing up an additional $23 million through veteran cuts to accommodate Simmons’ contract.
The critical question arises: Would the Titans be willing to part ways with Jeffery Simmons, considering he is a central piece of their defense and one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in the NFL? Titans’ general manager Ran Carthon prioritized and successfully extended Simmons’ contract, making it a potential setback for the Titans to trade him away.
While the Titans might be a viable trade partner for the Bears’ No. 1 overall selection, given their quarterback situation with Will Levis as a potential replacement for Ryan Tannehill, it remains uncertain whether the Titans would be willing to part with Simmons. The Bears, in turn, could benefit from a haul of draft picks in such a trade, unless the Titans show a willingness to trade wide receiver Treylon Burks.
Looking ahead to the 2024 offseason, the Bears have a justified reason to focus on upgrading their defensive tackle position. Although they secured Andrew Billings on a two-year extension during the 2023 season and have promising young players like Gervon Dexter Sr. and Zacch Pickens, they lack a dominant penetrator suited for the three-technique role in their defensive line.
In the absence of finding the right fit through free agency or trade, the Bears might consider using one of their first-round picks on a defensive tackle. The unpredictability of the Bears’ first-round strategy hinges on their decision regarding the No. 1 overall pick. If they opt for a defensive tackle, top prospects like Illinois’ Jer’Zhan Newton or Texas’ Byron Murphy II could be targeted early in the draft.
Ultimately, the Bears may prioritize their needs at quarterback, wide receiver, or edge rusher in the first round. However, selecting a three-technique defensive tackle in the first round is not entirely ruled out, given the significance of this role in Eberflus’ 4-3 defensive scheme. The outcome of the draft strategy will largely depend on the Bears’ decision regarding the No. 1 overall pick and their evaluation of positional priorities.
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