Roquan Smith trade results for Ravens, Bears: Baltimore gets two All-Pro linebackers

The Baltimore Ravens are trading Chicago Bears two-time all-pro linebacker Roquan Smith, CBS Sports NFL insiders Jonathan Jones and Josina Anderson have confirmed. In return, the Bears will receive second- and fifth-round picks, as well as linebacker AJ Klein. Smith is the second high-profile guard the Bears traded last week — just before the NFL trade deadline (4 p.m. ET Tuesday) — after Chicago traded edge rusher Robert Quinn to the Hawks. .

Smith, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, recorded 83 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions this season. The Georgia player has only missed four games in more than four seasons. The former SEC Defensive Player of the Year has been a playmaker since entering the league, completing more than 600 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 1 forced turnover, 7 interceptions and 1 touchdown.

The 25-year-old is in the final year of his rookie contract and plans to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. Spotrac.com projects an average annual salary of $17.6 million, which would be the second highest among active off-ball linebackers; a high price to pay for the position.

When questions arose about the status of contract negotiations during the preseason, first-year general manager Ryan Poles had the following remarks via ChicagoBears.com:

“I think he’s a very good footballer. I love the kid. I love what he’s doing on the pitch and it makes me very disappointed with where we are now. I think we’ll be in a better place state of mind, to be honest with you… Having said that, we can’t ignore that it’s not about one player. My job is to build a roster that’s going to be successful for a long time. At the end of the day , we have to do what is best for the Chicago Bears.”

Baltimore is at the top of the AFC North standings with a 5-3 record. Smith joins a group that includes former first-round picks Patrick Quinn, Josh Bynes, AJ Klein and Malik Harrison.

With Smith out, the Bears keep young linebackers Sterling Weatherford and Jake Sanborn, as well as free-agent signing Nicolas Morrow.

The Bears sent Quinn to Philadelphia last week in exchange for draft compensation. News of Quinn’s trade was passed on to Smith during his own media interview, This brings raw emotion. Poles start to stockpile in their first year in office. Chicago’s loss to Dallas last weekend dropped to 3-5 for the year.

Trade Class: Raven B+, Bear B-

The Ravens will definitely get a defensive playmaker who has turned things around over the past few weeks. Smith leads the NFL in steals with 83 and always has a knack for finding football, with 2 interceptions and 2.5 sacks for the year. Not only has Smith recorded double-digit tackles in all but two games this season, but he has more than 100 tackles in all four seasons in the NFL, with 246 of his 246 tackles in the NFL. ranked fourth.

Josh Bynes has been a solid player for the Ravens since his return last year, but Baltimore needs a playmaking linebacker in Mike to pair with Patrick Quinn. Whether the Ravens can sign Smith to a long-term deal will validate the deal, but Baltimore is working on it.

As for the Bears, getting second- and fifth-round picks with Klein is part of their rebuild. Chicago traded three draft picks for Smith and Robert Quinn. They’ll get first, two seconds, third, two quarters, two fifths and seven points in the 2023 draft. Reconstruction is in progress.

– Jeff Cole



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