Roquan Smith

Star linebacker Roquan Smith has formally requested a trade from the Bears, according to Ian Rapoport.

Smith has been sidelined since the start of training camp the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. He also feels like it hasn’t been so much as a negotiation rather than them pressuring him with a “take it or leave it” deal. In the detailed message below, Smith noted he lost trust in the organization in their attempts to take advantage of him during contract negotiations.

Smith believes the Bears' new front office "doesn't value" him.

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Bears linebacker Roquan Smith has formally asked for a trade through a letter tweeted by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport while in the midst of a "hold-in."

I wanted to be a Bear for my entire career, help this team bring a super bowl back to our city. 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. I dreamed of playing like Wilbur (sp.) Marshall, Singletary, Briggs, Urlacher, Butkus! Since the day I was drafted, I vowed to play this position at a level that upheld the standard that was set before me, to up hold that respect and honor, and I have. But Samuel has representation. They've refused to negotiate in good faith, every step of this journey has been "take it or leave it." I'm a kid from Macon County, Georgia. When you grow up playing football, you dream of making it to the NFL one day.

The Miami Dolphins are among the many NFL teams who could use a big-time linebacker like Roquan Smith, who has requested a trade from the Chicago Bears.

In the end, the Dolphins recognized Howard's ability and his importance to the defense, adjusted his contract for 2021 with a promise to revisit it this offseason, then followed through on their promise with a brand-new extension. And Howard had recently turned 28 at this time of his trade demand, not 25 like Smith. In the end, one would think the Bears would make sure to keep their star linebacker. Then there's the issue of what it would take to pry Smith away from the Bears, and one would think a first-round pick plus other assets would be the starting point — and, no, Smith for Preston Williams and Lynn Bowden, who the Dolphins are shopping, would not get it done. Smith is headed into the final year of the rookie contract — the Bears picked up the fifth-year option — he signed after being the eighth overall pick in the 2018 draft and is scheduled to make $9.75 million in 2022. His addition would give the Dolphins, for example, yet another talented young starter in a defense that already includes rising stars like Jevon Holland and Christian Wilkins, not to mention one of the top cornerbacks in the league. There was big news in the NFL on Tuesday morning when Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith publicly requested a trade, and it's not a stretch to suggest that fans of the other 31 teams — certainly including the Miami Dolphins — immediately began thinking about the the idea of Smith joining their team.

Smith, who is in the final year of his rookie deal, has been seeking a new contract from the Bears. In a statement from the linebacker that was released on ...

Over his four years in Chicago, Smith has tallied 524 total tackles, along with 14 sacks and five interceptions. Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith has requested a trade. “Walking these hallways the past four years, you can feel the spirit, you feel the pressure to live up to that timeless history, that great legacy.

Roquan Smith, the Bears' unquestioned best player, offered Poles an early test as general manager. One he has yet to pass. The star linebacker, set to make $9.7 ...

The Bears can either pay Smith and make him part of their future, or trade him and send a message to the rest of the roster about how they evaluate players and their opinion of the long haul ahead. The rebuttal is that, as a coach, your job is to mold what you do to your best player's strengths. Poles has a long-term vision for the Bears. He was brought in to execute that vision. What are the chances Robert Quinn still wants to stay if Smith joins Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, and others in waving goodbye to Chicago? He might hate moving, but playing for a contender will soften that blow. What kind of message does it send to the other players in the locker room if you either can't or won't give your best player the money he has earned? The star linebacker, set to make $9.7 million this season, wants a contract extension he has earned with his play on the field.

Whatever team acquires Smith would be getting one of the best, young off-ball linebackers in the league. He is one of just six players in league history to have ...

As an aside, Smith could also pick up the mantle left by Ray Lewis and be Baltimore's next great middle linebacker, which is in a similar vein to what he enjoyed about playing in Chicago with their long history of linebackers. 32-year-old Josh Bynes is currently in line to be the team's starting middle linebacker after starting 12 games for them last year and re-signing with the club this offseason. Now that they're back to full strength across the roster, this is a dark-horse team that could make some serious noise in the AFC. Offensively, they have an MVP-caliber quarterback in Lamar Jackson, and boast plenty of star power on defense, but are a bit thin at middle linebacker. Smith would immediately jump above both of them on the depth chart and could be the final piece on defense to put them over the top. The All-Pro linebacker officially requested a trade out of the organization on Monday due to a lack of productive contract talks. Currently, Elandon Roberts and Jerome Baker are headlining that group, and Smith would be a clear upgrade for either one, although he'd likely slot in over Roberts and be paired with Baker.

The request comes after contract extensions negotiations between the fifth-year player and the franchise have grown stagnant, leading Smith to believe that the ...

But my intention are to make sure Roquan Smith is on this team.” “Right now, my intention is to sign Roquan to this team,” Poles said. “I wanted to be a Bear for my entire career, help this team bring a [Super Bowl] back to our city.

All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith said the Bears have "refused to negotiate in good faith" and that the team has left him "no choice" but to request to be ...

"And I thought there was a lot of respect in where we're at right now. The linebacker said he wanted to be with the Bears for his entire career. We pay them, we take care of them, and we take everyone for what they've done and what they can become in the future. "It's documented in the defense that's the position, right?" "Every step of this journey has been 'take it or leave it.' The deal sent to me is one that would be bad for myself, and for the entire LB market if I signed it." "In terms of our philosophy in the front office, I've always believed and always will that we take care of our homegrown talent.

Chicago Bears linebacker and 2018 first-round pick Roquan Smith requests a trade, claiming that the new regime "doesn't value me here."

Rapoport added that, if accepted, the deal to Smith "would hurt the linebacker market as a whole." "I thought we'd be in a better situation," said Poles. "Right now, my intentions are to sign Roquan to this team. "However, they have left me no choice than to play for an organization that truly values what I bring to the table."

The Bears don't want to pay their All-Pro linebacker. Here are the teams who could instead, including most of the AFC West.

Like the Broncos and Raiders (and Chargers, who we’ll get to), the Eagles have invested heavily in a breakthrough season. Troy Reeder is another part time starter who could be headed to a promotion in Los Angeles as a matter of necessity instead of merit. The Broncos don’t have a ton of cap space in the near future. Philadelphia could opt to re-sign whomever works best in a hypothetical Roquan pairing or turn the reins over to Dean, who has been healthier than his draft day drop suggested, but has failed to impress early in training camp. Los Angeles has already spent big to upgrade a defense that didn’t perform anywhere near a playoff level in 2021. This could be a ploy to force the Bears — who are slated to have significantly more salary cap space in 2023 than any other team in the NFL — to pull out their checkbook. Philadelphia has been active addressing the weakness in the middle of its defense. The Broncos have a powerful secondary. Adding Smith would be another big swing for a franchise that hasn’t been afraid to take them. Smith is in the final season of his rookie contract. Smith would be an immediate upgrade for a unit that lost contributors like Van Noy, Hightower and Collins this offseason. It was a preamble to an announcement the Bears weren’t willing to meet his contract demands as free agency looms in 2023.

Roquan Smith wants out of Chicago, openly requesting a trade on Tuesday. So, if the star linebacker and the Bears can't get back on the same page, which NFL ...

Smith was a rookie starter and an instant-impact performer on a defense that was among the best playmaking units in the league that season. In a year where one division rival's star quarterback is suspended and another rival is moving on from its future Hall Of Fame QB, the Ravens might be willing to strike for a big move when the iron is hot. Still, if the Ravens believe Smith can upgrade the defense considerably -- also, if they can afford the linebacker's 2022 salary and stomach the compensation necessary to get a deal done -- they might have to consider it. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and prime-time regular-season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand and more! GM George Paton also was a senior member of a Vikings front office that used top-50 picks on linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, suggesting Paton might value the position more than some other talent evaluators. But on another hand, he's due $9.7 million in the fifth and final year of his rookie contract and plays a less-than-premium position -- so would another team even offer enough to Poles and the Bears to make a deal viable? Chargers head coach Brandon Staley was on the Bears' coaching staff with Fangio when they drafted Smith in 2018. New defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero comes from the Vic Fangio coaching tree and reportedly plans to keep much of Fangio's terminology in place as he runs the Broncos' unit. It also might depend on how effective the Ravens believe Smith could be in pass coverage, which was Baltimore's biggest defensive weakness a year ago -- and coincidentally, it was the area of Smith's game that appeared to slip the most last season. But Atlanta is all about stockpiling as much fertile talent as possible, theoretically, and the man who drafted Smith is in the front office. "The new front office regime doesn't value me here," Smith wrote in a lengthy statement fielded by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. "They've refused to negotiate in good faith, every step of this journey has been 'take it or leave it'. The deal sent to me is one that would be bad for myself, and for the entire LB market if I signed it. On the one hand, Smith is only 25 and has played at a relatively high level since entering the league.

Hours after Roquan Smith released a two-page statement requesting a trade, Bears general manager Ryan Poles addressed the situation in an impromptu press ...

"It's a very unique situation that we've had to deal with and I thought we've done a pretty good job, which, again, that's why I'm a little disappointed we're at this spot. "And I thought there was a lot of respect in where we're at right now. In 2020, he finished second in the NFL with 96 solo tackles and tied for second with 18 tackles-for-loss, the most by a Bears player since Hall of Fame middle linebacker Brian Urlacher had 19 in 2002. We pay them, we take care of them and we take everyone for what they've done and what they can become in the future. My job is to build a roster that's going to sustain success for a long period of time. "In terms of our philosophy in the front office, I've always believed and always will that we take care of our homegrown talent.

However, playing the Linebacker position, you NEVER imagine getting drafted in the Top 10 by the Chicago Bears! I'm a HOMEGROWN Bear! A dream came true for me ...

That type of offer offended Smith and helped lead to this trade request. I dreamed of playing like Wilber Marshall, Singletary, Briggs, Urlacher, Butkus! Since the day I was drafted, I vowed to play this position at a level that upheld the standard that was set before me, to uphold that respect and honor, and I have. I wanted to be a Bear for my entire career, help this team bring a super bowl back to our city. 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. I'm a kid from Macon County, Georgia. When you grow up playing football, you dream of making it to the NFL one day. Smith, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, reported to training camp but has not been practicing as he searches for a new contract.

Bears linebacker Roquan Smith has requested a trade out of Chicago following what he feels is a lack of appreciation by the team's new front office in ...

Making this move now, with a player whose price tag isn't nearly as high as other positions, would lessen the cap hit for L.A., which has roughly $14 million available to spend. That grouping, paired with the addition of Wilson at quarterback, could make a Super Bowl run in 2022. This could also work in Las Vegas' favor if the team is set on moving on from Josh Jacobs, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher whom the team has reportedly considered trading. He missed seven games in 2021 with an ankle injury and has started training camp on the PUP list while rehabbing. That leaves ample room for Smith to step in and immediately take over in the starting linebacker rotation. Smith would make an excellent tandem with Melvin Ingram, whom Miami signed in free agency. That includes two first-and second-round picks in 2023, a result of trading quarterback Russell Wilson to the Broncos. The question is: What could the Broncos trade for him? (It's also worth noting that the Bears are in desperate need for receivers.) He has had more than 100 combined tackles in each of his four years in the league. Smith, 25, is in the final year of his rookie deal. Seattle is in the midst of a rebuild, and has both the cap space — $13.8 million — and draft capital to make a deal for the Bears linebacker.

After linebacker Roquan Smith requested a trade, Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles says he still intends to sign him.

“He’s one of the best players in the NFL,” Reiff said. He said “maybe they can salvage this, but as of right now I don’t see a path back to the organization I truly love.” During the first two weeks of training camp, Smith has staged a “hold-in,” meaning he takes part in meetings, trains at Halas Hall and watches practices but doesn’t actually practice. “It’s a very unique situation that we’ve had to deal with, and I thought we’ve done a pretty good job. “We pay them, we take care of them and we take everyone for what they’ve done and what they can become in the future. You take it for what it is and you move forward. “My job is to build a roster that’s going to sustain success for a long period of time. But considering negotiations have stalled, questions remain about the value Poles places on Smith’s position at weak-side linebacker and whether Poles wants to see how Smith performs under a new coaching staff before committing that kind of money. “I’ve always believed and always will that we take care of our homegrown talent,” Poles said. “I wanted to be a Bear for my entire career, help this team bring a Super Bowl back to our city,” Smith’s statement read. Asked if he intends to trade Smith, Poles said: “Right now my intentions are to sign Roquan to this team. Smith, who is working without an agent, obviously didn’t believe that to be the case.

The speculation about his contract suspects Smith is aiming to be the highest paid linebacker in the NFL. Shaquille Leonard, from Matt Eberflus' previous team, ...

In the past two seasons, Smith has produced over 300 combined tackles and 30 plus tackles for loss. Now, Smith claims the front office "doesn't value" him and have refused to "negotiate in good faith." Seeing that, Smith likely wants to break the $100 million mark with his sights on $20 million per year over five years.

Chicago Bears' All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith has requested a trade. Should the New England Patriots be interested in trading for the player?

Next, what would it take to get Smith? Well, it’ll likely take a mix of players and draft capital. He needs to infuse the offensive line with more talent and add legitimate NFL receivers to the team. Bears’ General Manager Ryan Poles has been nothing short of a disaster thus far, and his top priority should be trying to develop Justin Fields.

Smith went far enough to appeal to chairman George McCaskey to intervene, which only ratchets up the pressure on Poles to solve the problem.

Poles will have to lose this negotiation to win in the long run. It’s a very unique situation that we’ve had to deal with, and I thought we’ve done a pretty good job, which again that’s why I’m a little disappointed we’re at this spot.” There has been drama throughout his time with the Bears, and this is a continuation. Poles isn’t getting the benefit of the doubt if he ships off the best player on the team at age 25. Smith is essential, and there aren’t many players who qualify as such on this roster. “[Poles is] calm and steady, so he’s going to make the right decisions,” Borgonzi said. That being said, Smith has played his part in the fiasco. “We’ve gotta do what’s best for this organization, but my intentions are to make sure Roquan Smith’s on this team.” That’s also what’s best for quarterback Justin Fields, who is already playing on a stripped-down roster and can’t afford additional losses on either side of the ball. If he’s afraid of setting dangerous precedents, the owner having to step in would be the worst one possible for him and the organization. I thought we’d be in a better situation, to be completely honest with you. Obviously, that hasn’t been the case.”

Which three NFL teams need to get the draft picks and cap space ready to make a deal for linebacker Roquan Smith? Here's who should trade for the star LB.

That doesn’t necessarily mean much as a new deal for Roquan Smith will have an effect on future years, not just 2022. The defense in Las Vegas is in need of upgrades at the second and third level and a player like Roquan Smith could really be a game-changer for them. The Bears don’t exactly have to give in to Roquan Smith’s demands, but if they have an idea of where they’re willing to go on a potential long-term contract and they’ve drawn a line in the sand, they should be able to get a decent value in return for Smith.

The All-Pro linebacker publicly asked out of Chicago earlier on Tuesday.

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.” But my intention are to make sure Roquan Smith is on this team.” “Right now, my intention is to sign Roquan to this team,” Poles said.

On Tuesday it was reported that Chicago Bears' linebacker Roquan Smith requested a trade. The Washington Commanders need to pursue him.

The Washington Commanders have potential to be one of the better defenses in football this year. With Roquan Smith they will be one of the best defenses in football. You have one of the best players at the position on your team. Meanwhile, Roquan Smith is in the elite tier at linebacker. The Washington Commanders need to discuss trading for Smith. They need to do more than that, they need to inquire about it. Most of the year was a disaster for him though, and he looked lost.