“Got the Closest Thing to Reggie White and Aaron Donald”: Colin Cowherd Claims Ryan Poles Has Build “Best Roster” Since ’85 Bears With Jeffery Simmons

On Thursday, the Tennessee Titans parted ways with First-Team All-Pro Jeffery Simmons. Reports say they traded the defensive tackle to the Chicago Bears for two first-round picks and a pick swap. Sports commentator Colin Cowherd believes the Bears now have one of the league’s best rosters.

On Thursday’s episode of “The Herd,” he compared Simmons to Super Bowl champions Reggie White and Aaron Donald and claimed GM Ryan Poles has built one of the best franchise rosters since the Super Bowl XX triumph. That was when coach Mike Ditka led the team to a championship in 1985.

“The third-best in the NFC, Chicago, they got the best roster in Chicago since the ’85 Bears. They just went and got the closest thing to Reggie White and Aaron Donald in the NFL in a long time, Jeffery Simmons,” Cowherd said. “Number one in everything at defensive tackle. And we know defensive tackles are the ones quarterbacks struggle with because they get to your feet.

“The Bears give up two first-round picks and a fourth. The Bears now draft near the bottom of rounds. … Bears don’t make this move unless they think they can win the Super Bowl. So, Simmons is under contract for a couple of years. … He’s No. 1 in everything. … He is dominant. He is Aaron Donald.

“He is what you rarely see on defense. He is what they call a force multiplier. … This team now has 10 to 12 elite players. And the best player they have right now may not be the quarterback. It may be Jeffery Simmons. He’s that dominant.”

The Titans drafted Jeffery Simmons with the No. 19 pick in 2019. Back in June, he agreed to a three-year, $105.8 million extension. The four-time Pro Bowler has played in 106 regular-season games and recorded 414 tackles, 46.5 sacks, and 72 tackles for loss.

Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Titans coach Robert Saleh said trading Jeffery Simmons was not an easy decision. He praised the defensive tackle and highlighted how the move opens up opportunities for other players on the roster.

“It’s tough,” Saleh said. “Jeff is an elite football player, and he’s an even better person. I think that’s what people really don’t know about Jeff. I’ve always been a believer that money only makes you more of what you already are. And he’s an elite leader.

“I’ve been outspoken on that. Look, it (expletive). Everything about it (expletive). Unfortunately, it is necessary. There’s nothing to sell to anybody. It is what it is. It’s the hard part of our business. At the same time, there is opportunity for guys to step up.”

The Chicago Bears are currently second in the NFC North with a 5-2 record, behind the undefeated Minnesota Vikings.

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