The Roquan Smith era is officially over in Chicago. The Bears and general manager Ryan Poles shocked the NFL world on Halloween, dealing the star linebacker to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a second and fifth-round pick just 24 hours before the NFL trade deadline. The deal comes less than a week after the Bears dealt pass rusher Robert Quinn to the Philadelphia Eagles. The news was first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Buy Bears TicketsSource: #Bears LB Roquan Smith is traded to the #Ravens.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 31, 2022
Smith and the Bears were at a standstill when it came to a contract extension that lingered throughout training camp. He has been considered one of the best off-the-ball linebackers in the league, earning two second-team All-Pro honors. His future appeared to be in doubt with the team, however, and now that decision has been solidified with him heading east to Baltimore. Smith finishes the 2022 Bears season with 83 total tackles, four for loss, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions.
The news of the trade sent shockwaves across social media, leaving both Bears and NFL fans stunned by the move.
THE PAIN IN MY HEART https://t.co/1z6J7lNjyI
— Chief (@BarstoolChief) October 31, 2022
I’m about to cry in the Cracker Barrel rn https://t.co/gdPbgb4Kb6
— Phil Spain 🤫 (@philenespanol) October 31, 2022
Thought a trade would definitely be possible, he really struggled last game and has been pretty inconsistent in this new defense
Really appreciate his time in Chicago tho and wish him the best https://t.co/OIWmrE380h
— DaWindyCity Productions (@dwcprodz) October 31, 2022
is elon musk running the bears https://t.co/Tu8hhatLmP
— Luke Braun (@LukeBraunNFL) October 31, 2022
Wow! The tank is fully on! https://t.co/Hw81RyhNOu
— David Kaplan (@thekapman) October 31, 2022
This makes me sad. https://t.co/QstN12fDMk
— Nick Herrera (@Nick_Herrera34) October 31, 2022
— Brookshaven #KIRBSTOMP National Champion 🏆 (@WOOFDAWG1) October 31, 2022
Wow. Considering how young he is, this is a shock. Gotta wonder how much his wanting out played into this.
Getting my calming circle ready for watching this defense the rest of the season 😅 https://t.co/S6qMlGomUh
— Corie (@TalkBearsToMe) October 31, 2022
Whoaaa…. https://t.co/4gp9NDfC2v
— Chris Boden (@BodenTweets) October 31, 2022
Ryan Poles tearing it down to THE stud… 🥵 https://t.co/Y7VgdKqTIG
— 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 (@TheCowboyBear) October 31, 2022
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta dressed up as Steve Keim for Halloween? Getting his star QB another LB https://t.co/RNf8LNr7nR
— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) October 31, 2022
I'm in shock. I want to know the details.
Best of luck to Roquan. https://t.co/FDa286d8s0
— Ryan Dengel (@RyanDengel) October 31, 2022
Um, did they do the weird thing with the blue check marks yet or is this something that legitimately happened? https://t.co/ecddhou2S7
— Less Chat, More Hat (@Frustrated_Fan) October 31, 2022
I am … not sad about this. https://t.co/hOWWhvmsGs
— Lindsey Young (@LindseyMNSports) October 31, 2022
If you thought the Bears defense was bad against the Cowboys, just wait until we see what this unit looks like for the rest of the season without Roquan Smith.
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) October 31, 2022
Depends on who you ask but the Bears got an even return.
You can make the argument that they could’ve gotten more; however, Smith is a FA and the Bears need all the picks they can get.
Will the picks produce a Roquan Smith? Maybe not. But Chicago should take the chance.
— Greg Williams (@GregWilliams28) October 31, 2022
What the actual heck?!?! This is NOT the move!😡 Roquan was the one player they needed to keep. This hurts. #DaBears https://t.co/zpg7vrzvss
— Brooke✞∞ (@brooke_lofo) October 31, 2022
Let’s go. Great move. https://t.co/pVsRPT7hMR pic.twitter.com/u2r13S61MD
— spooKyle George 🎃 👻 🍁 (@FuriousGeorge94) October 31, 2022
Have to admit I don’t understand trading Roquon. That said he must have seen it coming and that was a reason for his lackluster stet play yesterday
— Greg Gabriel (@ggabefootball) October 31, 2022
https://t.co/gEVrOQlRpR pic.twitter.com/YmlETC8zdV
— TJ Brooks (@1Ilustrious) October 31, 2022
Yeah I woulda loved a 1st but whatever, keep piling up picks https://t.co/ure3PWaRHo
— dave (@barstoolWSD) October 31, 2022
A 2nd and 5th round pick for 9 games is a hell of a deal for the Bears in my opinion. #DaBears #Bears
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) October 31, 2022
BROOOOOOOOO WE ARE TANKING https://t.co/D23o6w58QK
— depressed sports fan (1-6; 3-5😭) (@ajdavis22800) October 31, 2022
Not sure about this one. The Bears are losing a terrific young player. https://t.co/tE9KCrtqse
— Mike Lowe (@MikeLoweReports) October 31, 2022
Now, the Bears do not have to deal with Smith’s ghost agent in the off-season. That is a plus in my opinion.
— Jack Wright (@BearDownJack) October 31, 2022
Like Roquan Smith & am bummed to see him go but the reality is that paying an off the ball LB $20M plus is a tough ask when trying to build out an entire roster.
It’s even tougher when Smith didn’t come out & look like the same level of LB we were accustomed to seeing. #Bears
— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) October 31, 2022
