Roquan Smith‘s hold-in effort has taken a turn. The standout linebacker does not appear on the cusp of being extended and is instead requesting to be traded from the Bears.
The fifth-year defender put out a statement, via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, indicating the Bears have failed to negotiate in good faith and do not appropriately value him. Smith pins the blame on Chicago’s new regime, noting he has not yet spoken with the McCaskey family during his extension talks.
This request stems from the Bears submitting an offer that would be “bad for myself and the entire LB market,” Smith adds, and Rapoport notes the team’s proposal contains de-escalators and does not top Shaquille Leonard‘s $19.7M-per-year Colts contract. The linebacker market moved last year, when Leonard and Fred Warner‘s deals came in above Bobby Wagner‘s previous positional record. Both are signed to accords north of $19M per year. Like Wagner, Smith is not believed to have an agent. A family member has advised him during the Bears’ negotiations.
While Smith’s accolades do not match Leonard’s or Warner’s, complicating these negotiations, he is undoubtedly pushing to join those standouts atop the linebacker market. Earlier this summer, Ryan Poles said a new deal before the season was not a lock but indicated discussions ahead of camp were on tap. The former top-10 pick has upped the pressure on the rookie GM. Smith is currently tied to a $9.735M fifth-year option price.
A two-time Second-Team All-Pro, Smith is one of the final veterans standing from a top-tier Bears defense. The team traded Khalil Mack, cut Danny Trevathan and Eddie Goldman and let Akiem Hicks leave in free agency. Robert Quinn was linked to wanting a trade earlier this offseason, and while the veteran now seems somewhat out of place on what has become a rebuilding team’s defense, he said late last month he is not seeking to be dealt. But Quinn has already signed two big-ticket deals. Smith, 25, is seeking his first veteran contract.
The Bears are carrying more than $18M in cap space, placing them in the top 10 for available funds. They are also eating more than $57M in dead money, with previous Mack restructures responsible for much of that figure. Smith’s trade request comes a year after Allen Robinson detailed frustrations about his negotiating efforts with the Bears, though Smith’s frustrations lie with new front office personnel.
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