(670 The Score) When the Bears traded linebacker Roquan Smith to the Ravens in late October 2022, it was another signal of their intention to rebuild with the long-term future in mind.
The Bears were 3-5 at the time of their trade of Smith and bottomed out from there, losing their final nine games to finish with an NFL-worst 3-14 record. As for Smith, he reached the playoffs with the Ravens last season and is now helping lead a first-place team in Baltimore.
The trade from the Bears to the Ravens proved to be a blessing, Smith told Sports Illustrated recently.
“Man, it’s pretty crazy thinking back to when I was initially traded,” Smith said. “It was bittersweet for me, just knowing Chicago and rightfully so. But if I would’ve stayed there, honestly, (I) wouldn’t have been able to compete for a title anytime soon. And then when I came over here, it took me a while, like a couple of weeks, to really realize how stacked this team was, as well as how many good people there are on this team, and how they just bring in truly good people.
“And when I just think about it from the perspective of having the opportunity to compete for one year in and year out with the talent we have. Man, it makes me so happy, just knowing my career is not going down the drain, in the sense of playing somewhere where I’m not truly competing for a title.”
Smith earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors for the first time last season, when he played his final nine games with the Ravens. He was traded by the Bears in part due to a breakdown in contract negotiations with the team. Baltimore later signed Smith to a five-year, $100-million deal.
At 7-2, the Ravens are currently tied for the best record in the AFC. The Bears are 2-7 and in last place in the NFC North.