The Baltimore Ravens They do business Chicago Bears Two-time All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, CBS Sports NFL Insiders Jonathan Jones and Josina Anderson confirmed. The Bears received second- and fifth-round picks, linebacker A.J. Smith is the second high-profile safety dealt by the Bears in the past week — just before the NFL trade deadline (4 p.m. ET Tuesday) — after Chicago traded edge rusher Robert Quinn to the Eagles.
Smith, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, has recorded 83 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions this season. In four-plus seasons, the Georgia product has missed just four games. The former SEC defensive lineman has been a playmaker since arriving in the league, accumulating more than 600 tackles, 16.5 sacks, one forced fumble, seven interceptions and one touchdown.
The 25-year-old is in the final year of his rookie deal and is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. The Spotrac.com average annual salary is $17.6 million, second-highest among active off-ball linebackers; Position has a steep price to pay.
When asked about the status of contract negotiations during the preseason, first-year general manager Ryan Boles said: via ChicagoBears.com:
“I think he’s a great football player. I love the kid. I love what he’s done on the field and it makes me very disappointed where I’m at right now. I thought we’d be in a better position. To be perfectly honest with you… it’s a player who We can’t forget that it’s not about. My job is to build a roster that’s going to be successful for a long time. At the end of the day, I have to do what’s best for the Chicago Bears.”
Baltimore is atop the AFC North standings with a 5-3 record. Smith joins a group that includes former first-round pick Patrick Quinn and Josh Bynes, AJ Klein and Malik Harrison.
With Smith gone, the Bears have young linebackers Sterling Weatherford and Jack Sanborn, as well as free agent signing Nicholas Morrow.
The Bears sent Quinn to Philadelphia last week in exchange for draft compensation. News of Quinn’s trade broke when Smith got his own media, It brought raw emotion. Poles save draft capital in the first year of employment. With the weekend loss to Dallas, Chicago fell to 3-5 on the year.
Trade Grades: Ravens B+, Bears B-
The Ravens are certainly getting a playmaker on defense who has turned things around the past few weeks. Smith leads the NFL with 83 tackles and has always had a knack for finding the football, with two interceptions and 2.5 sacks on the year. Smith has recorded double-digit tackles in all but two games this season, but he has 100-plus tackles in each of his four NFL seasons and his 246 tackles are fourth-most in the NFL.
Josh Pines has been reliable for the Ravens since returning last year, but Baltimore needs a playmaking linebacker on the mic to pair with Patrick Quinn. Whether the Ravens can sign Smith to a long-term deal will determine this trade, but Baltimore is going for it.
For the Bears, acquiring a second and fifth round pick along with Klein is part of their rebuild. Chicago received three draft picks in exchange for Smith and Robert Quinn. In the 2023 draft they will have a first, two second, a third, two fourth, two fifth and a seventh. Reconstruction is underway.
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