While the Chicago Bears 2022 season was largely forgettable, there were several key moments that are likely to have a lasting impact on the organization.
Most notably, the team’s decision to move off of star linebacker Roquan Smith. Chicago sent Smith to the Baltimore Ravens for a second and fifth-round pick at the trade deadline.
To many, this move was highly expected. Between Smith’s high demands and the Bears' desire to acquire additional draft capital, Smith’s departure from Chicago felt imminent.
Keeping a 25-year-old linebacker in his athletic prime on an expiring contract didn’t make sense for a team in the middle of a rebuild.
Baltimore, on the other hand, was preparing for a playoff push and was in dire need of a rangy off-ball linebacker. The Ravens paid up, and never looked back, giving Smith a record-breaking extension for inside linebacker following the season.
As is the case with most trades, the true implications of this move won’t be fully known for years. Smith only has half a season under his belt in Baltimore, and the Bears have yet to use their draft picks from the trade.
Still, enough time has passed that it is worth revisiting one of the first major moves of the Ryan Poles era. Here is how the Roquan Smith trade looks a little over six months later.