With the Nov. 10 trade deadline closing in, the NFL’s midseason market is heating up fast - and this week brought three moves that stood out above the rest. The headliner was Tennessee sending All-Pro defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons to Chicago, a blockbuster that immediately reshaped the conversation around the biggest deals of the week.
The Bears didn’t hesitate to chase a difference-maker. Simmons arrives after a career year in 2025 and brings the kind of rare interior presence that can wreck both a passing game and a run game.
Chicago already has a potent offense under head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams, but the defense has been uneven: 14th in EPA/play allowed, ninth in points allowed and last in yards per play. Simmons is the kind of player who can raise both the floor and the ceiling of that unit.
Of course, the cost was steep. General manager Ryan Poles is betting that the draft picks Chicago sent away will land late in the first round, but this is still new territory.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it’s the first time since 1967 that a defensive tackle has been traded for multiple first-rounders. The risk is obvious, even if the contract softens the blow.
As Albert Breer reported, the deal that goes to Chicago includes $7.94 million for the rest of 2026, $26.95 million in cash for 2027, and a contract running through 2030 for a total of $124.7 million.
Because the Titans just extended Jeffery Simmons, and the bonus money is paid, a team-friendly deal goes with him to Chicago ... • $7.94 million for the rest of 2026.
• $26.95 million in cash for 2027. • Signed through 2030 for a total $124.7 million.
- Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 29, 2026
Tennessee, meanwhile, handled the departure of a franchise cornerstone about as well as it could. Simmons was the Titans’ best player and posted career highs of 11 sacks and 21 quarterback hits in 2025, but the team still won only three games.
Robert Saleh was brought in to build something better around him, and that hasn’t happened. The Titans are 1-6, out of contention, and the return of two first-round picks plus future cap relief makes real sense for a team shifting toward the next phase.
Seattle’s move for veteran guard Joe Thuney was driven by the state of Sam Darnold’s season. The Seahawks have had trouble running the ball and keeping Darnold clean, and both issues have dragged them down.
Seattle is averaging 3.9 yards per carry, which ranks 23rd, and Darnold’s EPA/dropback when pressured sits 32nd out of 33 qualified quarterbacks, per TruMedia. Two draft picks is a noticeable price for what amounts to a rental, but the logic is straightforward: Thuney should help stabilize the offense right away.
Indianapolis also made a seller’s move by sending guard Quenton Nelson away, and while it’s always hard to part with a franchise icon, the Colts clearly chose a direction. Nelson is still playing at a high level, so the return can be debated, but acquiring a pair of draft picks for an expiring contract is still a useful outcome. The 2027 third-rounder could matter a lot as the Colts prepare for a full rebuild, especially with their own first-round pick already belonging to the New York Jets.
There was also a smaller but meaningful deal involving DeForest Buckner and San Francisco. The 49ers got a player who fit what they needed: depth, star power and experience up front.
Buckner is 32 and not as dominant as Simmons, but he remains productive as a pass-rusher with four sacks in seven games this season, putting him on pace for his best sack total since 2020. For a team sitting at 6-1 and dealing with injuries, the price - a Day 3 pick - made the move even stronger.
Buckner first became a Pro Bowler in San Francisco in 2018, and the reunion gives the Niners another quality piece in the trenches.
By the end of the week, the interior pass-rusher market looked far more valuable than anyone might have expected. The Bears paid an enormous price for Simmons, which only cast Buckner’s modest return in a different light. That contrast made Indianapolis’ timing look questionable, even if Buckner was never going to bring back anything close to Simmons’ haul.
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