Tennessee Titans trade Jeffery Simmons for draft picks
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The floundering Tennessee Titans traded their best player on Thursday, shipping star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears in exchange for future draft picks.
Why it matters: The move signals that general manager Mike Borgonzi has his sights set on a long-term rebuilding project.
The big picture: The Titans have traded or declined to retain star players who formed the core of their last playoff contender: running back Derrick Henry, wide receiver AJ Brown and now Simmons.
- Brown won a Super Bowl with the Eagles and Henry set rushing records with the Ravens.
- Those departures are in addition to coach Mike Vrabel, who led the Patriots to the Super Bowl after the Titans fired him.
Between the lines: In exchange for Simmons and a fifth-round choice, the Titans received a hefty haul of two future first-round picks and a fourth-round pick.
Yes, but: Since the Bears established themselves as a playoff contender, those first-round picks are unlikely to be high selections.
State of play: Simmons has been a dominant force for a floundering franchise. He was named an All-Pro player three times and reached the Pro Bowl four times.
- Simmons is also heralded for his leadership, having been named a team captain five times, and frequently celebrated for his charity work.
- A day before the trade, he told reporters his mindset was, "What can I do to influence this team and get things back on track?"
The bottom line: With a new taxpayer-funded stadium set to open next year, the Titans are mired in a four-year losing streak that ranks among the worst in NFL history.
- In trading Simmons, the team made a bold move that looks to the future while leaving fans little hope for winning in 2026.