Rodney Dangerfield pioneered the iconic phrase, “I got no respect.” While it might be overused these days, it is still appropriate. No player on the Chicago Bears roster and probably in Chicago sports deserves it more than Roquan Smith. The young linebacker has played really good football since arriving in 2018. The numbers prove it. He had a case for Defensive Rookie of the Year. He should’ve been a Pro Bowler at the very least last season. Yet still, no accolades to speak of.

Now the 24-year old is on pace for the best season of his career. Through six games, he has 62 tackles, two sacks, and a pick-six. He’s on pace for 165 tackles in 16 games. That would top the most ever in a single season by any Bears player in history. Brian Urlacher holds that mark with 153 in 2002. This should provide a clear idea of how insanely good Smith has been so far this year.

#Bears LB Roquan Smith through 5 games this year:

• 50 tackles (5th in NFL)
• 62.1 comp. % allowed (6th for LB)
• 64.6 passer rating allowed (8th)
• 2 sacks (T-2nd)
• 2nd-lowest missed tackle rating for top 10 tacklers

He’s solidifying himself as one of the NFL’s best LBs. pic.twitter.com/Li6VM5hewO

— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) October 13, 2021

Yet there is no mention of his name.

Not one. The wider NFL media remains focused on guys like Fred Warner, Bobby Wagner, Darius Leonard, and even Logan Wilson. All guys who are playing on worse defenses. How is it possible that Smith continues to be so overlooked? The only explanation at this point is he’s overshadowed by others on his own defense. Guys like Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn, and Jaylon Johnson have played great this year too. This has made it difficult to get noticed.

Even so, that is a poor excuse. Smith should already be an established Pro Bowler. His production to this point more than justifies it. One would think he’d be getting tons of notoriety given he plays for the Bears. An organization that has become a factory of great linebackers going back decades. Something that makes this entire situation all the more baffling.

Roquan Smith is the future of the Bears defense

His emergence is coming at the perfect time. Age is creeping up on much of the old guard. Mack, Quinn, Akiem Hicks, and Danny Trevathan are all over 30-years old. Their times are all approaching. The team really needs to have young talent waiting in the wings to carry the defense forward. Smith is that guy. He along with Johnson look like absolute fixtures for this team. The challenge will be finding other pieces to join them. Maybe Bilal Nichols and Trevis Gipson will join the conversation.

For the Bears, their goal moving forward is clear. What must they pay to ensure Roquan Smith stays put for a long time? They already picked up his 5th year option this offseason. So they have time to figure it out. It isn’t a big secret they will likely make him one of the highest-paid linebackers in the league.

This feels like a matter of time.

Part of the issue is Smith doesn’t have an agent. So either he needs to find one or will be negotiating this contract himself. Something that makes the process a bit more challenging. Either way, it should get done eventually. At least then the Bears will make it clear to the NFL that they value how great this guy is.