Ryan Poles pulled the trigger nobody thought he had the guts to, unloading two-time All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith to the Baltimore Ravens for 2nd and 5th round picks. It wasn’t the outcome the Chicago Bears GM wanted. His philosophy is centered around rewarding homegrown players. He was a fan of Smith’s ability and felt he made a strong and fair offer to extend Smith. The 26-year-old rejected it and made matters worse by publicizing his grievances in the media.
It was at that point that things crystalized for Poles. He understood reality. His best offer had been rejected, and it was becoming evident that getting Smith back to the negotiating table would be too much of a hassle. So the exploration of trade possibilities began. However, Smith’s antics alone weren’t the only reason many felt Poles made this move. Some felt the GM didn’t see off-the-ball linebackers as a position worth paying top NFL money.
Tom Waddle asked him about this during an interview for ESPN 1000. Poles’ answer was predictably honest and matter-of-fact.
“Yeah. It’s definitely a combination. Here, it’s our philosophy and the way that we’re building that we do have to take into account the value of the positions. That’s important in team-building. So that does have a part in how we’re going to move and how we’re going to acquire talent.”
Ryan Poles shows a clear vision for what’s to come.
His first two draft picks were in the defensive secondary. His biggest free agent swing was at defensive tackle with Larry Ogunjobi. While that fell through, it was clear evidence of his plans for the future. He’s going to invest in premium positions. That means cornerbacks and pass rushers. Off-the-ball linebackers have a place in the NFL but aren’t as vital to team success as those two positions. As brilliant as Smith has been the past two years, it hasn’t fixed the Bears’ leaky run defense.
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Don’t forget that head coach Matt Eberflus is a former linebacker. He knows the position better than anybody. The Bears should have no trouble finding good players in the years to come. He and Ryan Poles are on the same page. Great defense in the modern NFL centers around how difficult you can make life for the opposing quarterback. That agenda will be on full display when the off-season begins next March.
Roquan just texted me. He’s glad he’s out of Chicago where he says linebackers go to die. He’s looking forward to his $25 million per year contract with the Ravens as soon as he explains his true value to them.
Roquan wasn’t a liability. But he also wasn’t feared. When you think about 20 million dollar linebackers, does he strike fear? Do you scheme for him? The answer is No. Not to mention the fact that a guy taken in the second round in the same draft by The Colts is an all pro? Flus is a linebacker guru. We will be fine
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Letting Smith go was a bad idea. The defense should have been built around him.
In the NFL LB’s and RB’s rarely get big money especially ones who arent game changers RS isnt a game changer but he is a great stat collector