The Chicago Bears are in a rebuilding phase. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus may not choose to say the exact words, but their actions throughout this season make that clear. Rebuilding teams always tend to operate in certain ways. They unload old, expensive players and try to secure extra draft picks whenever possible. That is often done by unloading players they may not see as part of their long-term outlook. Enter Roquan Smith.
Looking back on the Ryan Pace era, there is no question the Georgia linebacker ended up being his best draft pick. He is a two-time second-team All-Pro before his 25th birthday. Nobody disputes he deserves the expensive contract coming his way. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report isn’t so sure Poles and Eberflus want to invest that kind of money. At least not right now when it’s clear the team is two or three years away from contention. He thinks trading Smith should at least be considered.
“While Chicago has $20.2 million in cap space available—fourth-most in the NFL—an extension isn’t going to come cheap. Do the Bears want to invest heavily in Smith now when the playoffs may still be two or three years away?
If the Bears are on the fence, you can bet that another contender would love to have Smith in its lineup. A trade could potentially net Chicago a second- or even a first-round pick in return—provided Smith is willing to sign an extension with his new team.
That’s something Chicago would have to heavily consider.”
Roquan Smith can survive a rebuild without issues.
If he were a normal fifth-year player, it might make sense. Smith is different. Assuming Knox is correct and the Bears are three years from contending, that means he will be 28 years old when it happens. That puts him still squarely in the middle of his prime. There is no reason to believe he will be in danger of declining by that point. So the Bears shouldn’t fear offering him a big contract extension. It would make more sense if he were 27, as most usually are around this point in their careers.
The bigger issue is how Roquan Smith is viewed from a scheme fit. Remember, he’s done all his great things as a 3-4 inside linebacker. He will transition to a 4-3 now under Eberflus. That is a significant change. The Bears have no idea how Smith will handle the adjustment. He has the intelligence and athleticism to make it easy, but it is impossible to predict anything with certainty. All signs point to the organization wanting to keep him around. He is a foundational piece they’re hoping to build a new defensive core with.
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Trading him is a fun talking point but the odds of them getting a better player are remote.
It shouldn’t take three years to rebuild in the NFL. Chicago should be competing by next season. Period.
Kristopher Knox an expert? That is highly, highly questionable.
LOL Kristopher Knox go put on your damn Cheesehead!
Who is this guy writing this suggestion? If you do trade Smith, you’d better get a first and a second in the same year! Nothing less!
Trading Roquan Smith is not a fun talking point. I’d rather trade the author of the article than trade Roquan. He’s still young and will have many more years to be the middle of Bears defense.