When it comes to NFL fans and media, the name Roquan Smith doesn’t get mentioned as much as it should. The guy is a two-time second-team All-Pro but has never made the Pro Bowl. It remains one of the most baffling situations for any player in the league. Everything from the numbers to the big plays on tape is there. By all rights, he is on a trajectory to make the Hall of Fame when he retires. It is vexing, to say the least.
However, not everybody is ignorant of Smith’s budding greatness. Many of his NFL peers are well aware of what he can do. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN polled several executives, coaches, and players around the league to gauge who they believe are the best off-ball linebackers in football. Darius Leonard led the way at #1, with Micah Parsons already behind him at #2. One would be prepared to see Smith nowhere on the list, but he was nestled at #5. The praise for him was high too.
“Best overall LB in football in my opinion,” an NFL coordinator said. “Others might be slightly better in one of the four facets of the game — run game, pass coverage, blitzer, leadership — but that kid is top four in every category.”
What hurts Smith? Where he plays. Leaguewide expectations are low for Chicago in 2022.
“If he was in somewhere like Dallas, he’d be celebrated as maybe the best,” a Pro Bowl NFL player said. “He doesn’t get the credit he probably deserves.”
Roquan Smith has lived in the shadows of others.
When he arrived in 2018, he was on a defense stacked with talent. Akiem Hicks was already a Pro Bowler in all but name. Danny Trevathan was an established presence with a Super Bowl ring. Khalil Mack arrived via trade a few months later. Kyle Fuller and Eddie Jackson would both become All-Pros that year. So it was difficult for even the 8th overall pick of the draft to stand out in such a loaded group.
That has changed. Mack, Hicks, Fuller, and Trevathan are gone. Jackson hasn’t had an interception in two years. This defense now unequivocally belongs to Roquan Smith. He is their centerpiece and their leader. Expectations are he’ll receive a lucrative extension from the Bears before the next off-season. His talent perfectly fits Matt Eberflus‘ new 4-3 defense. GM Ryan Poles wants to build his roster with homegrown talent. Securing Smith would be a great message to send.
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It is at least nice to see the rest of the NFL acknowledge how good he is. Maybe the national media will finally catch up this year. Sadly it may take until the Bears start winning again for that to happen.
If only NFL PLAYERS and COACHES voted for who would be in the PRO BOWL, Roquan would have been voted in at least twice if not three times.
Beast! Agreed, and that’s why the article that suggested trading him is just idiotic. Put some of the left over cap money this year into his signing bonus. I think part of the reason his deal hasn’t been done is we don’t have a finalized roster yet. Once the roster is set and Poles doesn’t need any more money for other guys I expect to see his deal announced. Should be done a week before the SF game.
I agree with @Bob. Ro is a BEAST and anyone who isn’t a casual fan knows this.
Don’t understand the previous comment about no big plays. Since 2018, he has 5 interceptions (1 returned for TD), 1 forced fumble, 14 sacks, 43 TFL, and 17 QB hits…not to mention his 524 tackles. He is the best overall LB in the league.
I don’t know about the big plays. How many interceptions, sacks, forced fumbles, TFLs has Smith had? He is great at using his speed sideline to sideline to make plays, but they are usually several yards down field.