3 Random thoughts on the Chicago Bears trading away Roquan Smith
Ryan Poles no longer saw Roquan Smith in the Chicago Bears future
Ryan Poles is looking to build this franchise in his image. He came out early and said that he was going to build through the draft, take back the north and never give it back. We shouldn’t be surprised that he’s sending off assets that can net the greatest return. The negotiations between Roquan Smith and Ryan Poles clearly did not go in a way that Poles deemed worthy of retaining Smith’s services.
Rather than deal with the headache, now Poles doesn’t have to give $18 million-plus to someone who appears to be an off-the-field problem. He now has two second-round picks to go with a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He also already has nine picks to start with, when last season he only had five.
If we look at the Chicago Bears, they are building for not only 2023, but beyond. The salary cap needed fixing. The team needed a youth movement. Ryan Poles said it was difficult to trade a player like Robert Quinn just a week ago, but his job is not to only look at the now but to also look at the future. That is what we are seeing here with a move like this. I am bummed the pick was not a first. However, I understand why a team wouldn’t give that up for a player they now have to negotiate with going forward.
Overall, I’m leaning toward this being a good move for both sides. From a micro-level, it’s a downgrade for sure. From a macro level, this team needs to be making moves of this magnitude. I’ll stay on the fence for now but might declare my side tonight on my podcast (Halas Huddle).