The Chicago Bears sent ripples across the NFL when they traded for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. The trade will have an impact across the entire roster. Who is directly impacted and is it for the better or worse?
5 Players directly impacted by the Bears trading for Jeffery Simmons
Grady Jarrett, Winner
Jarrett is a strong defensive lineman and a former Pro Bowler, but he is 33 years old. The last time he played at least 70% of the team's defensive snaps for an entire season was 2022. Right now, he is playing 71.5%. They are asking too much of him.
Jarrett is going to play less, but when he does, he will get fewer double teams. So, a healthier, stronger, and less tired Jarrett will now be in a better matchup. He is a clear winner.
Kentavius Street, Loser
Street was signed in free agency and won a job in training camp, but this was a journeyman who never had more than 3.5 career sacks. He already set a career high in starts, but he has just one sack in seven games. The team only plays him 44% of the time even though he starts. It speaks to their confidence in him. The team did not want to see any more of him, and his role will significantly reduce as he moves into a backup role behind Jarrett.
Montez Sweat, Winner
Sweat and Simmons played at Mississippi State together back in 2019. Now, the first-round duo is reunited with the Bears. This is going to be a major win for Sweat, and not just because Simmons is his friend, but because Ben Johnson admitted that the key to Sweat producing more was help to get him more one-on-ones. He is about to get a lot more space with attention on Simmons.
Jordan van den Berg, Loser
The rookie sixth-round pick was a fun story this summer, but he has not translated to the NFL field. So far, he is averaging 10 snaps per game and has hardly seen the stat sheet. Simmons will be nearly an every-down player, and Jarrett will split with Street across from him. Neville Gallimore is still in the mix and will slide into that 10-snap-per-game role. The rookie will hardly see the field.
Linebacker Play, Winners
The linebackers have been playing above expectations despite a poor defensive line in front of them. Now, they will operate in a cleaner space. This is a huge win.
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