Bears’ Roquan Smith Heads Into Year Miffed, Needing To Deliver

Ryan Poles didn’t blink, and the Chicago Bears are better for it. But winning a training-camp contract stalemate hardly means Roquan Smith is going to be around as Poles rebuilds the second-division roster he and Matt Eberflus inherited from their predecessors, Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy.

Sitting out almost a month’s worth of practices in training camp shouldn’t be a problem for the 25-year-old linebacker. It will be forgotten if he can generate enough buzz with his play to become more of a commodity at the November 1 trade deadline than he was after requesting a trade.

You’d think Smith would be humbled by the muted response to his availability but it’s clear animosity remains between him and the Bears’ new regime.

“I’ve busted my ass so long here, and (it’s frustrating) not being rewarded with something I thought was rightfully deserved,” Smith told reporters over the weekend. “I’m moving past it now . . . and going out there and enjoying the time with my guys because that’s who I truly care about.”

Smith, who has been one of the best players on an under-performing defense, did not say anything to knock down reports he had been seeking a long-term deal worth an average of $20 million, with most of the money guaranteed. He’ll earn $9.735 million this year on a fifth-year option the Bears exercised a year ago and could remain under control through a franchise tag in 2023 and ’24.

But it seems clear Poles doesn’t currently consider Smith as one of the NFL’s best linebackers, leaning instead toward the Pro Football Focus rankings that had him closer to the middle-of-the-pack last season. The new general manager, who had risen through scouting and player personnel ranks with the Kansas City Chiefs, seems to be taking a quantity-over-quality approach as looks to build a perennial contender.

Poles traded Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers for two draft picks, including the 48th overall in 2022. He continually moved down in this year’s draft, turning six picks into 11. Why wouldn’t he deal Smith at the Nov. 1 deadline if a contender offered the Bears a a second- and third-round pick, like the Rams did the Broncos for soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Von Miller last November?

Miller, who is eight years older than Smith, helped the Rams win the Super Bowl and then cashed in with a six-year, $120-million deal with the Buffalo Bills (with more than $51 million guaranteed). That’s a path that would seem to appeal more to Smith than remaining in Chicago.

In the meantime, however, Smith has to hit the ground running. The Bears are hoping he can get up to speed with Eberflus’ 4-3 defense fast enough to play in Saturday’s final exhibition game at Cleveland. He’ll then will be tested by second-year San Francisco quarterback Trey Lance in the Sept. 11 season season opener at Soldier Field.

Smith is projected to start at the weak-side linebacker position after moving from the outside to the inside in the Bears’ old 3-4 scheme. It should be a relatively minor adjustment for the two-time All-Pro but it’s an adjustment, nevertheless.

Smith is serving as his own agent, which is its own wrinkle in the poor dynamics between him and his front office. By setting his contractual demands as high as he did, he bet on himself.

It’s time to deliver.