The Detroit Lions have yet to make a big move ahead of the November 10 trade deadline. They didn't sound too eager to break the market or make a big splash earlier in the season, but that can always change at any point.
In the meantime, the Chicago Bears stole all the headlines by trading for Jeffery Simmons. While adding a superstar defensive tackle of his caliber is obviously a big move, giving up two first-round picks and a fourth might be a bit too much.
The Bears are a team on the rise because of their youth, so they could afford to make this move. But not having first-rounders for two years, right as their youngsters are in line to get paid, might come back to haunt them for years.
Lions can only laugh at the Bears' overpay for Jeffery Simmons
Simmons is a great player, but he's 29. Granted, some defensive tackles are still dominant past their 30s, but he's signed to a huge contract through 2030, so he might not be able to live up to the hype in the final years of his deal.
More than that, the last time a team traded two first-rounders for a defensive star midway through the season didn't end well. What has Sauce Gardner done for the struggling Indianapolis Colts other than cost them two first-rounders?
While he doesn't have a history of injuries, we've seen how the Myles Garrett trade is aging for the Los Angeles Rams. Granted, that doesn't mean teams shouldn't pull the trigger when they can, but there are recent precedents of these deals backfiring.
The Bears had a breakout star in the building and traded him for scraps. Instead of just paying Gervon Dexter Sr. his money, they gave him up for a bag of peanuts, just to give up their future for an aging star on a more expensive contract. Simmons is the better player, but that's just not smart asset management or roster building.
Also, the Bears were reportedly interested in trading for Khalil Mack, and they could've also been in the cornerback trade market, given how much Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson have struggled this season.
With all they had to give up to get Simmons, they might not be able or willing to make another move, leaving more options for the Lions, who should also try to get more help in the secondary, even with Kerby Joseph's return.
The Bears made an all-in move, and that's fine. They're a great team, and they got undeniably better. That doesn't mean this big move wasn't a bit short-sighted, and the Lions might reap the benefits of their desperation for years to come.
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