Report: Roquan Smith Signs Rookie Contract, Reports
Roquan Smith will be joining the Chicago Bears team after reports that he is signing his rookie contract.
Chicago Bears fans just breathed a huge sigh of relief. Reports are coming out fast and furious that Roquan Smith has signed his contract and is reporting to training camp.
The #Bears and first-round LB Roquan Smith have agreed to terms on his rookie deal, source said. The holdout is over, he’s coming in. They are finializing the language.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 13, 2018
Smith is the final rookie to sign his rookie deal after a much publicized stand-off between Smith and CAA against the Chicago Bears regarding language in the contract about voiding the guaranteed money that first round picks receive.
Bears are giving LB Roquan Smith a four-year, guaranteed $18 million slotted deal, per the CBA. Deal should include about $11 million in form of bonuses.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 13, 2018
It will be interesting to see what type of information leaks out about the language in the contract in terms of what of Smith’s guarantees are voidable based on suspensions or behavioral issues. It would seem that the two sides found some type of common ground and were able to forge out a deal.
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Smith knew that if he waited much longer, he wasn’t going to be able to have a chance to earn a starting spot by week one. At this point, Smith still will be given the opportunity. He has a solid three weeks of practice to catch up.
If the Bears are fully healthy week one, odds are that Nick Kwiatkoski and Danny Trevathan will be starting at the inside linebacker positions week one, but it would be sensible to expect Smith to rotate in and play in 40 to 50% of the snaps. It seems likely that Smith is starting no later than week two against the Seattle Seahawks.
Whether Smith is starting week one or week two is largely irrelevant. The bottom line is that Smith is with the team and will begin practicing. The Bears should be much improved this year, but this is still a big picture year. They want Smith to be on the field and developing so that he can become the dominant defensive player the team feels he will become.
The only thing that should matter to Bears’ fans at this point is that Smith is with the team, and one month from now, this holdout will be nothing but a footnote.