The Chicago Bears new regime is tearing down most of what the old regime did at Halas Hall. The stench by that group is still lingering over Lake Michigan. Last week Bears dealt defensive end Robert Quinn to Philadelphia. This week the Bears send their best defensive player, Roquan Smith, to the Baltimore Ravens. Smith was by far the best pick drafted by Ryan Pace during his tenure as the General Manager of the Bears. Smith is a linebacker out of Georgia University who was once crowned SEC Defensive Player of the Year in his collegiate career. Bears drafted Smith number 8th overall in the 2018 NFL draft. Bears will receive a 2nd and a 5th round draft pick by the Ravens. Baltimore threw in veteran linebacker A.J Klein to sweeten the pot. Smith could have been a pillar of the Bears rebuild, but the linebacker threatened the team with a contract holdout at the start of the season. When Quinn was dealt, Smith cried in a press conference that his friend was traded. Maybe the writing was on the wall for Smith’s future with the Bears. Collecting a stockpile of draft picks to revamp the entire Bears roster is part of the plan for newly hired Ryan Poles who is still in his first year with Chicago.

The Baltimore Ravens get a linebacker that can help their defense now. Ravens seem to always have had a quality defense in the NFL. Since Ray Lewis retired, the Ravens’ defenses over the years have been up and down. Lamar Jackson and the offense are the heartbeat of the Ravens these days. Ravens are one of elite teams in the AFC. Ravens are perched on top of the AFC North looking to claim the division once they owned. Ravens have given up a few late 4th quarter leads this season that have cost them team games. Roquan Smith gives the Ravens a tackling machine on their defense, and a linebacker that has good coverage in the secondary. Smith this season with the Bears has 83 tackles and 2.5 sacks with two interceptions in 8 games. Smith is not a pass rushing linebacker. Smith’s game is chasing offensive players down like a dog from sideline to sideline or in between the hash marks. Smith leads the NFL in tackles this season. Smith gives the Ravens a play maker on their defense. Smith in 4 1/2 years in a Bears uniform has 607 tackles of which 47 of them are for a loss. Smith has racked up 16 1/2 sacks with 20 quarterback hits as he is not used to kill the quarterback. In coverage, Smith has defended 20 passes and has 7 interceptions.

I truly think the Chicago Bears wanted to keep Roquan Smith in the mix. Smith is only 25 years old and has one year remaining under his rookie contract, under which he expects to get paid like a pass rushing specialist. How long will this rebuild take to have the Bears once again relevant? Smith has no agent as he represents himself as most people would be insulted over what your bosses say about you to your face in a contract negotiation. Chicago offered him an extension. Honestly, it can hurt any contract without an agent dealing the negotiations. Bears are going nowhere this year and have a plan to collect as many draft picks as they can. Bears got the most out of this Smith trade with two picks. Plus, A.J Klein can be a serviceable veteran this season who could help Little Kitty band aid the opposing offenses who will start having field days versus the Bears defense. Last week, Dallas hung 49 points on the Bears D with Smith in the line up. Klein is 31 years old, and has played ten seasons in the NFL that features stops in Carolina, New Orleans and Buffalo before signing with Baltimore. I hate giving up your own that you have drafted. In the long run, Bears are better off by trading him now instead of franchise tagging him later and dealing with another future holdout.

The Ravens are all in this season, as Roquan Smith could just be a rent-a-player. Is Smith the final piece for the Ravens to get them through a tough conference of the AFC during post-season? If Ravens can extend Smith and keep him in Baltimore this deal will work out for both teams. I don’t like Smith as his own agent as the Ravens already have a guy like that in Lamar Jackson. Jackson too is playing in his last year of his rookie contract. Jackson would get paid well before Smith. Not sure the Ravens can pay both guys with a max contract. I think Smith is a good person, and a good football player, but crying because your teammate was traded is a different animal. If there is no crying in baseball, football, and hockey have to be above and beyond the Summer pastime. The younger generations crying is probably acceptable even on a good romantic comedy movie night with your own phone. Ray Lewis would lose his mind if a fellow linebacker was crying on his shoulders because they traded someone. Lewis, I still think he got away with murder. Let’s hope Smith can stop the bleeding on opposing teams trying to come back in the 4th quarter the rest of the way for the Ravens season. It would help justify this move in short and long term. Perhaps all the X-Bears will reunite in another city and get the band back together. Khalil Mack is in LA.