(670 The Score) The Bears’ teardown continued Monday afternoon.
Chicago has agreed to trade star linebacker Roquan Smith to the Baltimore Ravens, according to multiple reports. In return, the Bears will receive a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick from the Ravens, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported. Chicago will also acquire veteran linebacker A.J. Klein from Baltimore, Adam Jahns of the Athletic reported.
The move came as the 25-year-old Smith was in the final season of his contract and after he had conducted a hold-in and demanded a trade out of Chicago during training camp. That wish wasn’t granted at the time, but with the Bears continuing to prioritize their long-term future and unwilling to pay Smith the premium contract he desired, first-year general manager Ryan Poles chose to trade one of their most talented players Monday, one day before the NFL trade deadline.
Smith had 83 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions in eight games for the Bears this season. Chicago selected him at No. 8 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Smith is owed a little more than $5.4 million for the remainder of the 2022 season, and the Bears agreed to pick up about $4.8 million of that, Schefter reported.
Smith’s exit came less than a week after the Bears traded pass rusher Robert Quinn to the Eagles for a fourth-round pick, a move that wasn’t much of a surprise given Quinn’s veteran standing on a young team. The Bears' defense was then carved up in a 49-29 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday, a setback that dropped Chicago to 3-5. Afterward, Smith admitted he played poorly.
“We didn’t play to our standard," Smith said. "It’s unacceptable, and it starts with me. We got to get better, and we all have to get better for our individual assignments.”
Smith will join a Ravens team that’s 5-3 and which has championship hopes.
The 31-year-old Klein is a journeyman who has five tackles in limited action across two games this season. He'll provide the Bears depth at a linebacker position that's thin following Smith's departure.
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