New NFL Rumors on Surprise Jeffery Simmons Suitors Before Blockbuster Trade to Bears from Titans

Before the Chicago Bears pulled off the biggest blockbuster of the trade-deadline season so far, there were other playoff contenders that made calls to the Tennessee Titans for Jeffery Simmons.

Per The Athletic's Jonathan Jones , New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh called Strunk "directly" in an attempt to trade for Simmons:

"The Giants have been looking to make a deal ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline, knowing they will go into Week 9 atop the NFC East. General manager Joe Schoen had previously reached out to Titans GM Mike Borgonzi, who told Schoen and other inquiring teams that they wouldn't trade Simmons.

"Harbaugh then opted to call Strunk, the Titans' controlling owner, in an attempt to get Simmons. Harbaugh got the same message from Strunk, who has empowered Borgonzi to make football decisions for the franchise."

The Ringer's Tom Pelissero added at least three teams spoke to the Titans about Simmons, including the Jacksonville Jaguars.

It's unclear how far any talks between Tennessee and Jacksonville went because Pelissero noted the Titans probably viewed it as a "nonstarter" to trade Simmons within their division, but Jaguars general manager James Gladstone making the call "probably portends more activity" for them leading up to the deadline.

Jones cited one NFL general manager who felt Harbaugh calling the owner of another team as violating a "code amongst primary football decision-makers" in that they only deal with each other.

There is a bit of an established relationship between Harbaugh and Strunk. He was scheduled to interview with Titans officials, including Strunk and general manager Mike Borgonzi, at his home in January.

The meeting never took place because Harbaugh was hired by the Giants right before Strunk and Borgonzi were getting ready to fly out, per Sports Illustrated 's Albert Breer .

One reason the Giants were unable to pull off the trade for Simmons is their lack of available draft capital. They don't currently own a fourth- or fifth-round pick in 2027.

New York could add a fourth-rounder based on the comp pick formula after Wan'Dale Robinson signed with the Titans in the offseason, but compensatory picks can't be traded until after they have been awarded.

The Bears' trade package for Simmons was headlined by two first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, but they also included a fourth-round selection in 2027.

It's also notable the Giants were trying to trade for a defensive tackle after sending Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in the offseason.

The defensive-tackle market is thinning out leading up to the Nov. 10 trade deadline with Simmons and DeForest Buckner, who was traded to the San Francisco 49ers, already being moved.

Despite their need for help on the interior of the defensive line, the Giants are sitting in a good position right now with a 4-2-1 record that has them in first place in the NFC East going into their bye in Week 8.