The Chicago Bears are a disaster. Roquan Smith is no longer interested in helping with the cleanup.
The All-Pro linebacker and biggest star on a rebuilding roster devoid of talent officially wants out of Illinois. The rangy off-ball defender took to his Notes app to express his appreciation for the fans in Chicago and the history of the only NFL franchise he’s ever known. It was a preamble to an announcement the Bears weren’t willing to meet his contract demands as free agency looms in 2023.
“I wanted to be a Bear for my entire career, help this team bring a super bowl [sic] back to our city,” Smith wrote, per Ian Rapoport. “However, [Bears management] have left me no choice than to request a trade that allows me to play for an organization that truly values what I bring to the table.”
#Bears All-Pro LB Roquan Smith has requested a trade. pic.twitter.com/x4vmOMhROt
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 9, 2022
Smith is in the final season of his rookie contract. While he’ll earn $9.7 million in 2022 — more than half the total of his earnings from the first four years of his career — that’s still an underpay in a league where the Indianapolis Colts’ Shaquille Leonard, a comparably stout inside linebacker, is earning an average of $19.7 million annually.
This could be a ploy to force the Bears — who are slated to have significantly more salary cap space in 2023 than any other team in the NFL — to pull out their checkbook. It also could be a dinner bell for any potential contender with a need in the middle of its defense and money to burn next season and beyond. A Smith extension would likely clock in somewhere around five years and $100 million, if Leonard’s extension in Indianapolis is any indication.
There are several teams who would be happy to hand him record-setting cash. The 25-year-old Smith would immediately stabilize any needy roster’s linebacker corps, even if these off-ball LB deals have recently failed to pay off:
Team building is about context. Yes, Roquan Smith is a very good player
Very few of the top off-ball LB deals in recent years aged well:
– Jaylon Smith
– Deion Jones
– Myles Jack
– Anthony Barr
– Kwon Alexander
– Zach CunninghamEtc. etc. etc. The window is a bad fit
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) August 9, 2022
Let’s talk about the five candidates who make the most sense for a Smith trade. Spoiler alert: most of them are hoping he can make life hell for Patrick Mahomes.
1
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders bought in after last year’s playoff appearance. The team extended Maxx Crosby and Derek Carr — though the latter is anything but a firm commitment — and traded for Davante Adams in hopes of building a postseason streak.
However, holes still need to be filled on both sides of the ball. The linebacker corps isn’t a bad place to start. Denzel Perryman was a Pro Bowl selection last season, but while he made a ton of tackles he also struggled in coverage. Rookie Divine Deablo was a sure-handed tackler but only played 26 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. Jayon Smith and Kenny Young are both useful enough options better suited as role players rather than starters.
Adding Smith would be another big swing for a franchise that hasn’t been afraid to take them. The Raiders were a top 10 team in defensive DVOA against the pass thanks to positive developments from young defensive backs Trayvon Mullen and Trevon Moehrig. They sank to 21st against the run, which is a problem the block-shedding Bear would immediately help solve.
Las Vegas has to face Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Russell Wilson six times per season for the foreseeable future. Adding as much defensive talent as possible is paramount to the team’s success. A 25-year-old two-time All-Pro would certainly qualify.
2
New England Patriots
Bill Belichick has done a great job drafting versatile linebackers. His draft hits include Dont’a Hightower, Jerod Mayo and Jamie Collins.
Belichick also does great work integrating veteran linebackers from other teams into his lineup. Notable examples include Kyle Van Noy, Akeem Ayers and, if we’re hopping in the wayback machine, Mike Vrabel.
Adding Smith would be his highest profile acquisition since landing Junior Seau. And he’d have an even bigger impact than the aging Hall of Famer had in 2006.
Smith would be an immediate upgrade for a unit that lost contributors like Van Noy, Hightower and Collins this offseason. His presence would provide an upgrade on the inside to Raekwon McMillan and free up Ja’Whaun Bentley to be the downhill run-thumping terror he’s built to be. Smith’s ability to get from sideline to sideline makes him a screen-chasing, tight end-harassing force against the pass.
Belichick has loosened his notoriously tight purse strings for impact defenders in the past. Stephon Gilmore paid off in a massive way after signing a five-year deal in 2017. Rosevelt Colvin, thanks to injury, had a mixed impact. Smith would be the next link in that sparse chain, following 2021’s spending spree before a 2023 offseason in which the Pats are projected to have more than $47 million in cap space.
3
Denver Broncos
The Broncos have a powerful secondary. They’re hoping that will be enough to overcome their weaknesses up front en route to the team’s first playoff appearance since Peyton Manning’s retirement.
Denver’s average pass rush and struggles against the run left the team ranked only 20th in overall DVOA despite recording the league’s No. 3 scoring defense. Pairing Smith with a returning Josey Jewell (only two games in 2021 due to injury) would suddenly give a team with a rich defensive tradition one of the best interior duos on Sundays. It would also help paper over Jewell’s biggest weakness — coverage speed — by turning tracking duties over to one of the most athletic linebackers in the NFL.
Smith’s presence would shore up one of the biggest question marks on the team’s roster. The other players competing for the starting slow alongside Jewell are Jonas Griffin (four career starts), Justin Strnad (five), Alex Singleton (19, but they were not good) and Barrington Wade (zero). Strnad has potential but, amazingly, despite being drafted two years after Smith is still seven months older than him.
The Broncos don’t have a ton of cap space in the near future. Even so, acquiring and extending the Chicago hold-in would be a logical step forward in general manager George Paton’s recent buy-in plan. Denver’s offense is ready to cook; bringing in Smith would help ensure the defense is as well.
4
Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia has been active addressing the weakness in the middle of its defense. The Eagles let Singleton sign with the Broncos, added Kyzir White in free agency and stopped projected Day 1 pick Nakobe Dean’s draft slide by snapping up the Georgia standout in the third round. That added extra depth to a lineup that includes TJ Edwards as well as recent draftees Davion Taylor, JaCoby Stevens and Shaun Bradley.
Edwards and White are both capable of starting games without being a burden. They both also present an opportunity for upgrade for a general manager who has arguably done more work to transform his roster in 2022 than anyone else. Smith’s absurd athleticism would be a rising tide that would allow that duo to split platoon work that best suits their strengths. Edwards could focus on blasting running backs while the more coverage-oriented White could apply his talent to more obvious passing downs.
Smith would also fit with Howie Roseman’s vision of the future. White and Edwards will each be free agents next spring. Philadelphia could opt to re-sign whomever works best in a hypothetical Roquan pairing or turn the reins over to Dean, who has been healthier than his draft day drop suggested, but has failed to impress early in training camp.
Like the Broncos and Raiders (and Chargers, who we’ll get to), the Eagles have invested heavily in a breakthrough season. Roseman’s efforts to insulate the team from any Jalen Hurts letdowns so far have included signing Haason Reddick and James Bradberry as well as drafting Dean and physical marvel Jordan Davis. Trading for Smith would be the cherry on top — and could herald in a 18th straight season without a repeat champion in the NFC East.
5
Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles has already spent big to upgrade a defense that didn’t perform anywhere near a playoff level in 2021. The team handed out $120 million in contracts for free agents JC Jackson, Austin Johnson and Sebastian Joseph-Day while trading second and sixth-round picks for Khalil Mack.
That’s a great start. Will it be enough to fix a unit that ranked 26th in defensive DVOA last season? The Chargers gave up 27 points or more nine times in 2021 and, unsurprisingly, went 2-7 in those games. Justin Herbert has a stacked receiving corps and an offensive line anchored by young stars and he may have to throw four touchdowns per game just to keep LA competitive if that defense hasn’t improved significantly.
Smith would step into a depleted off-ball linebacker corps whose best player last season, Kyzir White, is currently an Eagle. Former first round pick Kenneth Walker has been a disappointment and fell out of the starting lineup during a brutal 2021 campaign. Drue Tranquill may be ready for a bigger role but he’s struggled in coverage; he gave up more than 7.1 yards per target last season even though the average pass thrown his way barely crossed the line of scrimmage. Troy Reeder is another part time starter who could be headed to a promotion in Los Angeles as a matter of necessity instead of merit.
Fitting a Smith extension into an already bloated salary cap situation would be difficult. The Chargers are an estimated $13 million over the 2023 cap right now, per Over the Cap. Of course, restructures and extensions could massage that number down to a tenable point. Sacrificing future flexibility might hurt, but not as much as potentially watching Herbert get boat-raced out of the playoffs this winter.
