If the Chicago Bears were going to compete for a Super Bowl this year, then they were going to have to make a move before this year's NFL trade deadline.
Little did we know, general manager Ryan Poles was going to go big -- real big.
The Bears pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Tennessee Titans, landing three-time All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.
You better believe it cost them a pretty penny, though.
For those who wondered about the cost to trade for Simmons beforehand, the argument that it'd start at a first-round pick was indeed, spot-on.
The Bears gave up a pair of first-round picks, plus a fourth rounder, in order to get Simmons and a fifth-round selection.
It had been a few years since the Bears made such a massive trade, but this one isn't far off from another deal pulled off for a defensive superstar.
The Jeffery Simmons trade is reminiscent of the Bears' Khalil Mack trade in 2018
Most Bears fans will remember the deal this franchise pulled off before Ryan Poles was in charge. Back in 2018, former general manager Ryan Pace took a huge swing just before Week 1 rolled around.
The Bears sent a total of four draft picks to the Raiders in exchange for Khalil Mack, who was also in the thick of his prime just like Simmons is, now.
The Bears sent:
2019 1st Round Pick
2020 1st Round Pick
2020 3rd Round Pick
2019 6th Round Pick
in exchange for:
Khalil Mack
2020 2nd Round Pick
2020 7th Round Pick
There is a massive difference between these two deals, though. Even though the immediate shock and reaction feel just as large with Simmons as they did with Mack, these two situations are vastly different.
Chicago's Jeffery Simmons trade makes much more sense than the Khalil Mack deal did
That 2018 team was led by Matt Nagy, who has now become the butt of many jokes in Chicago. Nagy was the beneficiary of the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes-led offense before he got a shot at being a head coach.
We now know that Nagy was never cut out to be a head coach in this league.
More importantly, the Bears' starting quarterback was Mitchell Trubisky who is now nothing more than a strong backup (ironically playing in Tennesse, this season).
The current Bears are led by unquestionably the most talented quarterback this franchise has ever had. Trubisky had plenty of flaws despite being a top-three draft pick in 2017, while Williams was and is the clear-cut top quarterback of his 2024 class.
Back in 2018, the Bears' offensive skill positions included the likes of Jordan Howard, Tarik Cohen, Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, and Trey Burton.
Fast forward to the present day, and the Bears are working with D'Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze, and Colston Loveland as their top five offensive weapons.
If you remember that 2018 squad, you might remember being excited about the talent on offense. And, to be fair, that offense did have some good games.
But, that offense was never going to be the reason Chicago competed for a championship. They were good, but not good enough.
Now, with Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams, fans understand that Chicago has a team capable of winning because of their offense. More importantly, they have a team that can win because of their head coach and the culture Johnson has instilled.
The feeling around that "Club Dub" version of the Bears was fun, but it was also fleeting.
Read more: Bears vs. Seahawks Week 8: Injury updates, predictions, storylines and more
These current Bears have the look of a long-lasting force that could compete year after year, and that's what makes these two trades all the more different.
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