The Jeffery Simmons trade has Bengals flying even higher entering Week 8

If the Cincinnati Bengals somehow lose to the Tennessee Titans at home in Week 8, they have no one to blame but themselves. The one man who could potentially wreck the game for Cincinnati's offense, Jeffery Simmons, is no longer in a Titans uniform.

Simmons was once somebody I longed for in Cincy. It just never seemed like Tennessee was willing to do business with anyone to trade him.

Well, that all changed on Thursday when Simmons was traded to the Chicago Bears for two first-round picks. Never a trade like it for a defensive tackle. Speaking of which, couldn't help but think an even more severe version of what I thought when Simmons became the highest-paid d-tackle in the sport.

Bengals committed figurative highway robbery in Dexter Lawrence trade

In a 2026 draft that most experts deemed to be very weak or at least wildly uncertain beyond the first handful of picks, the Bengals trading the 10th overall pick for Dexter Lawrence straight up was a masterstroke. I mean, I knew it was a masterstroke at the time. All Lawrence has done is prove it.

The New York Giants drafted Francis Mauigoa. Confident that he won't be as good as Dexter Lawrence.

But my goodness, Chicago. Two first-rounders for Jeffery Simmons!? I love him as a player but that is a whole lot of moolah and compensation to invest in one guy. Then again, the data suggests the one guy may very well be worth it.

Still though. I can't help but look at Simmons' average annual value of over $35 million and Lawrence's $23.3 million AAV through 2028 and not think Cincinnati made one of the trades of the century.

Cincinnati has a scary-easy layup game in Week 8 that can't be taken for granted

So not only is Jeffery Simmons being in the Windy City a massive relief for the Bengals, but they get another victory lap of sorts on the Sexy Dexy trade. That doesn't mean Week 8's outcome is a foregone conclusion, however.

As Stripe Hype writer Andrew Kusleika sharply observed, this Bengals-Titans ref crew isn't too favorable to Cincinnati. The 11.5-point spread at bet365 reflects just how unserious Tennessee is viewed to be.

Cam Ward has talent, but I always thought he was a wildly overrated No. 1 overall pick. Sure wasn't anywhere near the caliber of prospect his Sunday counterpart Joe Burrow was.

Not sure how much the point spread moved after the Simmons trade, but suffice it to say, it'd be one of the most baffling losses of the season by any team if the Bengals blow this one.

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