With Roquan Smith requesting a trade, there are plenty of questions about the potential return that the Chicago Bears could get for him. The big determining factor is that the team trading for Smith has to be ready to extend him at top of the market money. There is also his positional value, and what a team would give up for a top-end linebacker.
There is little history of trading for a linebacker, but since 1994 there have been a group of defensive players traded in similar situations. We will look at players who only were traded right as their rookie contract ended, and resulted in them signing an extension with the team that traded for them.
Multiple First Rounders: Jalen Ramsey, Jamal Adams, Khalil Mack
These are the big deals. Ramsey got two firsts and a four, and the Mack trade saw a third and a sixth on top of the first rounders, although Chicago sent back a two. Still, it is hard to see Roquan Smith quite getting this type of a return.
In the case of Ramsey and Mack, Smith is not quite on their level of pedigree in terms of All-Pro honors. Adams and Smith could be considered similar, but most see Adams as an overpay by Seattle.
First Rounder Plus: Frank Clark
The Chiefs sent a first and a second to Seattle, while the 49ers moved down picks in the third round to take on the assets. This is an interesting case in comparison to Roquan Smith. Smith has been the better player, but the pass rusher position is higher valued, as there are just fewer players at the size and ability of Clark compared to that of Smith.
Still, this is probably where Chicago may be starting to look at a return for Smith.
First Round Pick: DeForest Buckner
The Colts gave up the 13th overall pick for DeForest Buckner. Buckner and Smith play different positions, but both are former top ten picks, both are near the top of their position, but most would not say number one, and both provide a leadership ability that goes unregarded in this type of talk.
Buckner plays defensive tackle, which may be slightly more valuable than a linebacker, but can be regarded similarly. With Clark getting more than Buckner, and Smith being right on a tier with Buckner there is a case to be made that Chicago should want a first-round pick.
Second Round Pick Plus More: Phillip Buchanon, Yannick Ngakoue, Marcus Peters
Buchanon went from Oakland to Houston, and the Raiders got back a second and third-round pick. Ngakoue went for a second and a fifth from the Jaguars, and the Chiefs let go of Marcus Peters and a sixth-round pick for a second and a fourth.
In the case of Peters, you could argue that he had a better start to his career than Smith. Still, one thing hurting Peters was some of his off-of-the-field questions. In the case of Buchanon and Ngakoue, you would think that the Chicago Bears can get more for Smith.
Second Round Pick: DeAngelo Hall, Sheldon Richardson, Vontae Davis, Chandler Jones, Dee Ford
This group is interesting because for the most part, they were a higher regarded group than the one above them. Hall went for pick 34, Richardson for 49, Davis for 54, Jones for 61, and Ford for 63.
Ford did not work out, but the rest at least gave some practicality to the team that traded for them. Comparatively, you could say that players like Hall, Richardson, and Jones are on a similar level to Roquan Smith. Still, a second-round pick now feels like the floor.
Third Round Pick Plus: Leonard Williams
Leonard Williams went for a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick. The difference in his situation is that he was traded at the trade deadline right before he entered free agency, and it may have hurt his status.
Third Round Pick: Jamie Collins, Ronald Darby, Bradley Roby
Roby went for pick 80, while Darby and Collins both went for pick 96. In the case of Collins, you could draw a comparison, especially because he is the only linebacker on the list.
Collins was highly regarded, and some thought New England could have gotten more for him. Is this is a sign that a linebacker is just not going to fetch the value that a position such as pass rusher will?
Even with a similar profile to DeForest Buckner, his ability to impact the pocket on every snap probably boosted his trade value.
Overall, when looking at this, it seems like one first-rounder is the maximum, but something like a second-round pick, or a second plus a mid-round pick is the most likely scenario for Roquan Smith.