Simmons Trade Could Raise Colts’ Price for Taylor

WHO:

Heavy NFL - The Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants were involved in a separate April trade for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

NY Post - Jeffery Simmons, a 29-year-old two-time All-Pro defensive tackle, was traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Chicago Bears.

Heavy NFL - The Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers are affected by the Simmons trade; the Packers will face Simmons twice each year.

Heavy NFL - Jonathan Taylor is the Indianapolis Colts’ star running back, listed as age 27, with seven years of experience and jersey number 28.

CBS Sports - Other listed trade-deadline candidates are Saquon Barkley, Maxx Crosby, Khalil Mack, Budda Baker, Daron Payne, Tuli Tuipulotu, Josh Sweat and Amani Hooker.

WHAT:

NBC Sports - Chicago will receive Jeffery Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick; Tennessee will receive 2027 and 2028 first-round picks and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

NBC Sports - The Seattle Seahawks will send Indianapolis a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick for Quenton Nelson.

NBC Sports - San Francisco will send Indianapolis a 2027 fourth-round pick for DeForest Buckner.

NBC Sports - Indianapolis fired General Manager Chris Ballard and is building for the future.

NBC Sports - Jonathan Taylor has not requested a trade; Josh Downs said he is “open to whatever.”

NBC Sports - Budda Baker said he has neither asked to be traded from Arizona nor asked not to be traded.

NBC Sports - Garrett Wilson said he hopes not to be traded from the New York Jets.

NBC Sports - Brian Thomas has frequently surfaced in trade rumors involving the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Heavy NFL - The Bengals acquired Lawrence, a three-time Pro Bowler, in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

NY Post - The Bears sent the Titans two first-round draft picks and a fourth-round pick in exchange for Simmons.

Heavy NFL - The Simmons deal could raise the price the Colts would need to pay to acquire Taylor.

CBS Sports - Taylor was described as a possible trade candidate if available. He rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings and ranked fifth in season rushing, while the Colts had a 2-5 record.

CBS Sports - Barkley, age 29 with nine years of experience, averaged 48.8 rushing yards per game through five games and scored one touchdown; multiple injuries limited his production.

CBS Sports - Crosby, age 29 with eight years of experience, had seen a trade deal with the Baltimore Ravens fall through. Las Vegas had lost four straight games; Baltimore had agreed to two first-round picks, and a first-round pick plus a mid-round pick was raised as a possible price.

CBS Sports - Mack, age 35 with 13 years of experience, had three sacks in six games, was on an expiring deal and played for a winless team.

CBS Sports - Baker, age 30 with 10 years of experience, was one of seven players to reach 1,000 tackles before age 30 and had made eight consecutive Pro Bowls.

CBS Sports - Payne, age 29 with nine years of experience, was a former Pro Bowl interior lineman on an expiring deal; his production had dipped in recent years.

CBS Sports - Tuipulotu, age 24 with four years of experience, made the Pro Bowl after recording career highs of 13 sacks and 20 tackles for loss. He was set to make less than $6 million in 2026; through six games, he had 26 tackles and two sacks.

CBS Sports - Sweat, age 29 with nine years of experience, recorded a career-high 12 sacks for Arizona in 2025. ESPN had reported he was a trade target.

CBS Sports - Hooker, age 28 with eight years of experience, recorded 46 tackles and two interceptions in six games. He had 13 tackles and intercepted Daniel Jones against the Colts; Tennessee also had Kevin Winston Jr. and Tony Adams at safety.

WHERE:

NY Post - The trade sent Simmons from Tennessee to Chicago.

Heavy NFL - Tennessee and Indianapolis are in the AFC South division.

WHEN:

Heavy NFL - The Bengals acquired Lawrence in April.

Heavy NFL - The Simmons trade was discussed in connection with the trade deadline; the article text refers to Nov. 10, which is omitted because it is not a future date under the date rules.

CBS Sports - The candidate report identifies Tuipulotu’s 2026 salary and Sweat’s 2025 sack total.

WHY:

Heavy NFL - The Simmons trade may affect Taylor’s potential cost because of the price paid for Simmons.

CBS Sports - Taylor could become more realistically available as Indianapolis continued losing; Barkley’s injuries, age and the Eagles’ apparent position outside contention were cited in discussing a possible move.

HOW:

NY Post - Chicago acquired Simmons by sending Tennessee two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick.

Chicago acquired defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from Tennessee for two first-round picks and a fourth-rounder. The deal could raise Indianapolis’s asking price for star running back Jonathan Taylor. Seattle and San Francisco are also acquiring Indianapolis veterans for draft picks.