2. The rest of the league is watching
The players in the locker room know that Roquan Smith is a leader. They also know this is a new regime, so every move this new group makes is going to be looked at as their standard moving forward.
So, some players could be seeing this hold-in and saying that the new regime does not value their leaders. They talk about how Smith is a key piece and should sacrifice for the team, but when it comes time to get paid, they are hardnosed and look at him just through the lens of a player who may get injured, or a player who is replaceable.
So, when it comes time for these players to negotiate with the Chicago Bears, what will they think? Will they assume the team is going to come in and make things tough on them?
Then, why would anyone give a discount to play for a team? You saw the Pittsburgh Steelers sign Diontae Johnson for under-market value and he noted that the grass is not always greener, even despite a few million dollars.
Players will sign for the Steelers because they have a history of doing the right thing by their players. They let Ben Roethlisberger have a retirement tour. The goodwill adds up.
Now, free agents, and even future deals such as Jaylon Johnson will be viewed strictly through the business lens, because they know that the Bears do not factor in things like locker room presence and leadership into negotiations.