The linebacker has formally requested for trade and has a strong desire for a lucrative contract.
Smith wrote, in part, “The current front office administration doesn’t appreciate me here.” Every step of this process has been “take it or leave it,” and they have refused to negotiate in good faith. Accepting the offer sent to me would be detrimental to both myself and the LB market. Since April, I’ve been attempting to reach a reasonable agreement, but they have only been interested in exploiting me.
He said he wanted to be a Bear for his entire career and help the team bring a Super Bowl back to our city. However, they have given him no choice but to ask for a move so that he can play for a team that genuinely values what he has to offer.
Bears linebacker Roquan Smith asks to be traded from Chicago.
Smith has consistently produced as one of Chicago’s top defenders, earning two consecutive second-team All-Pro accolades in his last two seasons. Smith has not participated in practice since training camp began over two weeks ago because the Bears have not made a meaningful offer to retain him in Chicago on a long-term contract.
According to NFL Network Insider, Smith was outraged by Chicago’s backloaded offer because it didn’t make him the highest-paid LB in actual pay and had de-escalators that no other NFL has that contract size.
With Smith, who is due $9.7 million in his rookie contract’s final and fifth years, Chicago appears to be using the same reasoning.
With long-term objectives in mind, Chicago is amidst a sort of rebuild, shifting toward a younger group. If Smith isn’t the right match for the next administration, he would seem to fit into such plans.
