The Chicago Bears questionable decision to part ways with a standout linebacker roughly a year ago is still on the minds of some NFL coaches.
The NFL positional rankings are out, at least by ESPN.com (subscription required). The subject is "Top 10 off-the-ball linebackers," and San Francisco 49ers' standout Fred Warner is atop the list. Second is a performer who finally earned his due when it came to personal honors.
Linebacker Roqaun Smith was the eighth overall pick by the Chicago Bears in 2018. He totaled at least 100 stops in each of his first four NFL seasons. After eight games in 2022, the franchise dealt him to the Baltimore Ravens and in the process acquired linebacker A.J. Klein and second- and fifth-round picks in 2023 (Klein was waived roughly three weeks later).
It turned out to be quite the move by Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta and obviously puzzled some.
NFL coordinators slammed Bears for letting Roquan Smith go to Ravens
"I can't believe (the Bears) let him out of their building. He's a stud," according to an unnamed coordinator in the league.
Another coordinator called him "everything a linebacker is supposed to be."
It's hard to argue those points considering what Smith did for two different teams this past season. Hence it was little wonder that the five-year pro finally earned not only a Pro Bowl invitation by All-Pro accolades as well.
Despite playing in only eight games with Matt Eberflus' club, he finished third on the Bears with 83 tackles, to go along with 2.5 sacks and a pair of interceptions. Smith played in the Ravens' final nine games and also ranked third on that club with 86 tackles. He added a pair of sacks and an interception. Smith also finished with eight tackles in Baltimore's playoff loss at Cincinnati.
This offseason, the Bears added veteran linebackers Tremaine Edmunds (Bills) and T.J. Edwards (Eagles). Only the Houston Texans allowed more rushing yards per game a year ago that Eberflus' team. To quote Katy Perry, Smith (who signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension in early January) is certainly "the one that got away."