The Chicago Bears’ offseason just took another complicated turn. Roquan Smith trade rumors are beginning after the talented linebacker requested a trade. He claims he felt insulted by the contract sheet he got and that it would hurt the LB market as a whole if he were to sign it.
“The deal sent to me is one that would be bad for myself, and for the entire LB market if I signed it,” Smith said, per The Athletic. “I’ve been trying to get something done that’s fair since April, but their focus has been on trying to take advantage of me.”
Smith claims that ‘there’s no path back’ to the organization he loves. He was offended by a contract sheet that offers multiple de-escalators that no other player of his caliber has been forced to sign. So, it’s either being traded or sitting out the season.
Roquan Smith trade rumors
Needless to say, there will be no shortage of teams interested in an All-Pro linebacker who just turned 25 years old. Roquan Smith’s trade request most certainly has GMs picking up the phone to try and lure him away from Soldier Field, and it’s just a matter of time before he finds a new home.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five teams that would make the most sense for him.
Cowboys
It’s now or never for the Dallas Cowboys. Mike McCarthy enters the season on the hot seat, and it’s been way too long since they’ve found any sort of postseason success. So, now that Dan Quinn is calling the shots on the defense, adding another elite stopper to that promising unit would be wise.
Anchored by Micah Parsons, the Cowboys have a chance to build something special on defense. Leighton Vander Esch has struggled to stay on the field, and a combination of Smith and Parsons would wreak havoc for years to come. Also, they have more than enough draft capital to make a deal work.
Raiders
The Josh McDaniels era in Las Vegas got off to a solid start. They traded for Davante Adams to make it clear that they’re ready to compete right away. However, their defense was never the problem, and they could certainly add more firepower to the other side of the ball.
Bringing in Chandler Jones could be quite impactful, but there’s still a shortage of talent in their LB unit. Denzel Perryman is quite good, but there’s a big drop-off after him. The Raiders should look to complete a Roquan Smith trade to revamp their subpar run defense.
Patriots
The New England Patriots always build through their defense. Bill Belichick knows how to take pressure off his QBs with a dominant defensive unit, and considering how their roster is currently shaped, it might be the only shot they got of making the playoffs.
With reports of Mac Jones and the offense struggling sans Josh McDaniels, the Patriots need to go all the way to bolster their defense even further. They have multiple picks to sweeten the deal and should go the extra mile to take Smith to Foxboro.
Broncos
The Denver Broncos already traded for Kyle Fuller, so why not make it two for one? They’ve entered championship-or-bust mode with the Russell Wilson trade, and they already boast one of the league’s finest defensive units from the Vic Fangio era.
The only issue here is that the Broncos don’t have as many valuable draft picks as other teams to get a deal done, so chances are that they’d also have to include a player in any potential offer. But then again, Smith is just 25 years old and their defense is already elite, so they shouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
Steelers
And last but not least, the Pittsburgh Steelers could look to bolster their already physical and dominant defensive unit with Roquan Smith.
Brian Flores is their new linebackers coach, meaning the team will likely make that position a point of emphasis.
Smith has thrived under the 3-4 system throughout his entire career, so he’s an obvious fit in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have enough draft picks to make this interesting, and could even add Kevin Dotson to help the Bears’ ever-struggling offensive line.