The Chicago Bears' much-improved defense was on the verge of greatness. Then, Ryan Poles got on the phone and sent out a true king's ransom to get a superstar in Jeffery Simmons, the best defensive tackle in football.
Some argued that giving up two first-round picks for a DT was a bit too much. Those have gone radio silent after watching the former Tennessee Titans take the field for Dennis Allen's defense, and he didn't need much time to prove why he was worth all that, and then some.
Simmons obliterated the Seahawks' usually solid offensive line on the fourth offensive play of the game, taking down Sam Darnold with one hand, showcasing the raw power and physicality he'll bring to the table. Then, when asked about that play, his answer showed why he was just the guy this team needed.
Jeffery Simmons single-handedly shut down the Seattle Seahawks' offense
“If you block me one-on-one, I need to win the one-on-one. If I don’t win a one-on-one, the coaches should be on me. I hold myself to a high standard,” Simmons said (h/t Pro Football Talk).
That's the type of mindset you want from your defensive anchor, and the best part about that is that he's already proven that he can be that guy. He finished the game with six tackles, including three for loss, a sack, and one pass deflection.
In the 48 plays the defense had him on the field, the Seahawks averaged just 3.0 yards per play, took three sacks, and threw an interception. Without him, Mike Macdonald's team averaged a whopping 13.3 yards per play. They also held them to one conversion on 11 third-down attempts.
It's obviously way too early to jump to conclusions, but sometimes, a move is as big as advertised— even bigger. The Bears have to pay a steep price, but Simmons is the all-world type of guy who can elevate this team from pretender to real contender, and he showed that right away. He can take this defense to a whole new level.
Every Super Bowl champion has had a game-wrecking defensive tackle destroying the interior of the offensive line and keeping the quarterback on his toes. The Bears will have Simmons in his prime, and his ability to stuff the run and make plays in coverage makes him the most versatile guy at DT.
Now, it's all about fixing the broken cornerback room. The sky can be the limit for this team with Simmons' addition and Caleb Williams playing at an MVP-caliber level, so this is definitely the right time to go all-in and find someone to replace the ever-struggling Tyrique Stevenson and/or even Jaylon Johnson.
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