The Minnesota Vikings lead the NFC North with a perfect 6-0 record. But their top spot in the division doesn’t feel safe as the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaches.
The Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers made it clear they think they can catch the Vikings after acquiring Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts and the Vikings received a warning shot within their own division when the Chicago Bears acquired Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans on Thursday morning.
The Bears paid a premium price for Simmons, including a 2028 fifth-round pick, and traded their 2027 and 2028 first-round picks, along with a 2027 fourth-round pick, to Tennessee, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. With that, the Bears made it clear they think the Vikings are catchable despite their fast start and could put more pressure on them in the days leading up to the deadline.
Minnesota Vikings watch Chicago Bears address a big need with Jeffery Simmons trade
The Bears' acquisition of Simmons addresses a major weakness. Chicago has been trying to find help at interior defender the past couple of seasons, selecting Gervon Dexter Sr. in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Bears also selected Shemar Turner in the second round of the 2025 draft and signed Grady Jarrett to a three-year, $42.75 million contract during the 2025 free-agent period.
For all the resources the Bears have dumped into their interior defensive line, they haven’t gotten a massive return. In addition, they traded Dexter, their best interior pass-rusher, to the Atlanta Falcons before the season, creating a need for a game-wrecker in the middle.
Simmons will fill that need. A four-time Pro Bowler and a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2025, Simmons is one of the game’s best pass-rushing defensive tackles, with a career-high 11 sacks last season. While the Titans have struggled this year, Simmons was not the problem, recording four sacks and 24 pressures on 241 pass-rushing snaps.
At 29 and signed through the 2030 season per Over The Cap, Simmons isn't a rental. But he also adds an interesting dynamic as the Vikings look to capitalize on their fast start.
Vikings' offense will play a key role in holding off the Bears down the stretch
The Vikings have the qualities of a championship team thanks to Brian Flores’s defense and a stellar special teams unit. But their offense has left them looking vulnerable to other NFC contenders.
Minnesota ranks 23rd in points per game (20.8) and 27th in yards per play (4.7) entering Week 8 and Kyler Murray is still acclimating to Kevin O’Connell’s offense. But the Bears’ trade for Simmons also targets a hidden weakness on the interior defensive line.
Will Fries has been disappointing at right guard this season and while the Blake Brandel experiment at center has been average, it’s still exploitable to teams that can get interior pressure. Donovan Jackson’s season-ending meniscus tear has left Joe Huber at left guard and could be a problem for a team that can’t find explosive plays six games into the season.
That task could also get tougher as the season continues. Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions represents the first of four games against playoff contenders, with the Buffalo Bills at home in Week 9, a trip to visit the Packers in Week 10 and a battle with the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City in Week 11. But if they stumble, it could open the door for the Bears to walk right through after taking a massive swing at Simmons.
With the Bears and Vikings also slated to finish the regular season with a Week 18 matchup in Minneapolis, the Simmons deal represents a seismic swing in the NFC North. It could force the Vikings to either make a big move of their own or find the consistency their offense needs to capitalize on their fast start.
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