Bears should pursue Jeffery Simmons as trade deadline approaches |
Dustin Riese
· · 6 hours ago
With every win, the Chicago Bears further improve their chances of making the postseason, as they are heading in the right direction. The same can be said for teams on the losing end of the spectrum, as every loss makes it easier for them to become sellers at the deadline. The Tennessee Titans have already reached that point, as their 1-5 start resulted in the firing of second-year head coach Brian Callahan, with Mike McCoy now taking over as the interim.
That may be the start of what could be a busy trade deadline for the Titans, as this is a team with tons of holes to fill and no real direction to go. Should the Titans become the sellers many expect them to be, the Bears need to focus on one player in particular as someone who could help them on the defensive side of the ball. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that veteran defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons is making the headlines as he has called out his team following the past few losses about what he calls a lack of effort across the board. Simmons is not only one of the leaders on defense, but also a team captain, so it's worth wondering if there will be more to follow from this, as such incidents tend to create a rift in the locker room. According to The Athletic’s Michael Silver, Simmons stopped a practice session last week to publicly challenge right tackle JC Latham, saying, “I’ve watched you for the last 10 plays, and this ain’t it. We need more from you.” While those comments may not seem particularly severe, there is some history between Simmons and the Titans organization, as he feels that there hasn't always been a sense of urgency or accountability within the building. Throw in the team's overall inconsistency, and there is a lot of built-up frustration among many players, including Simmons, whose frustrations are starting to boil over. No one should ever call out an organization or teammates for that matter, but Simmons is a competitor and someone who prides themselves on leadership and relentless effort. Both of those attributes would fit well in Chicago, especially with Grady Jarrett continuing to nurse a knee injury and remaining week to week. There is no question that the Bears' defense has improved this season. However, Chicago still lacks the ability to stop the run consistently and generate enough pressure to make quarterbacks uncomfortable. Simmons would help with that, as he is the best interior pass rusher in the game today and is someone who not only sets the tone on the field, but also in the locker room. Given his disruptive comments over the past few weeks, it may have reached the point where the relationship can't be repaired, and a change of scenery is necessary. Chicago is definitely a change of scenery, and given the dramatic culture shift that we have already seen from Ben Johnson, Simmons would come in ready to deliver, as this is the type of locker room he needs to be a part of. Not only is Simmons a dominant defensive tackle, but he is also a game-changer and one of those can't-miss players should he become available. The proof is clear based on what he has done through six games this season, as he led all defensive tackles in total pressures (24) and tackles for loss (6). He also leads the entire league in double-team rate at 66%, a career-high mark, and boasts a massive 31% pass rush win rate, which is the best in the NFL. That alone shows the consistency in his play, as he is always getting after things to blow things up, which is evident by his 4.5 sacks through six games. That gives him 36 sacks in his 90-game NFL career as he finds a way to get after the quarterback. A move like this not only makes the Bears heavy favorites to land a wild card spot, but makes them a real contender in the NFC North where every team is above .500. This could be the first time since being appointed GM where Ryan Poles goes all in on the deadline and making a move to get Simmons would prove to everyone that the Bears are in it to win it.
