Everyone in the Windy City was head over heels regarding the Chicago Bears' trade for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, but that came at a high cost to the team.
After the Bears traded for Simmons, they needed to clear a roster spot. Defensive end Jamree Kromah was unfortunately the loss, as he was waived, and defensive back Josh Butler signed to the practice squad.
They hoped Kromah would still be available to bring back to the practice squad after he cleared waivers, but he never made it that far, as the Miami Dolphins claimed him off waivers. While Simmons is still the better option, losing Kromah could hurt the Bears more than they expect.
Jamree Kromah was starting to make an impact on the Bears
Kromah emerged in preseason and training camp as one of the few edge rushers who really stood out. He was one of those guys who kept making big plays and was as consistent as they come, which is exactly what the Bears needed at that position behind Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, and Dayo Odeyingbo.
In preseason, Kromah had a chance to shine in front of Bears fans and took full advantage of it. He posted a team-high three sacks in preseason, while adding nine tackles to help make his case for the 53-man roster.
For most of the regular season, though, Kromah was inactive until the last two games, when Odeyingbo and Sweat were both out. Odeyingbo was placed on IR, while Sweat served a two-game suspension for violating the NFL's PED policy.
Kromah would end up playing 28 total defensive snaps, which was 26% of the snaps on that side of the ball. He made just two tackles. Pro Football Focus, though, gave him a 69.6 overall defensive grade, a 49.9 pass-rush grade, and a 70.4 run-defense grade.
Chicago loses Jamree Kromah hits the team harder for the future
The reality of the Simmons trade was that the Bears would lose a good defensive lineman in the process. They had to make room for him so that someone would be a roster casualty.
It's too bad it was Kromah because that was a young player the Bears could have developed at defensive end. There have been questions about whether guys like Sweat and Odeyingbo would be there long-term. Keeping Kromah could have given them a young player who could eventually move up the depth chart in the next year or two.
The Bears invested more money and time in 2025 second-round pick Shemar Turner, so they would prefer him to be the guy they focus on. Turner hasn't played much and might get less playing time with Simmons in Chicago, depending on how the defensive line rotation works, but they want to see whether he's the real deal or not.
Read more: By the numbers: Everything the Bears are getting in Jeffery Simmons
Kromah will at least get a chance to shine with the Dolphins and get more playing time which, could be best for his career. Unfortunately, it came at the cost of the Bears' future at defensive end. At least they are getting a superstar at defensive tackle, so the loss will be a bit easier to take.
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