Chicago Bears: Three players Ryan Pace could reach for in 2018 NFL Draft
Roquan Smith
Okay, this wouldn’t necessarily be a huge reach at the eighth-overall pick. Smith rivals Minkah Fitzpatrick and Bradley Chubb for the best defensive player in this draft. Also, Smith has been mocked all around the back end of the top 10, typically just after the Bears pick.
Obviously, everyone got to see the Butkus Award winner flying all over the field and devouring people during the National Championship game. You also probably noted that Smith was the best player on either team, and that it wasn’t particularly close.
Yep, even against vaunted Alabama, Smith played second fiddle to no one.
His athleticism, playmaking ability and penchant for destruction remind me of pre-injury Jaylon Smith. He chases plays down with ridiculous speed and anticipation and runs stride-for-stride with wide receivers down the field when he feels like it.
This is 230lb LB Roquan Smith running step for step with one of the quickest/speediest WRs in the nation (Will Hastings). Not only does he run with him, he also bats the ball down and saves a TD. This is another play that makes you sit back and say, "wow." pic.twitter.com/OrrksOAMnE
— Chris (@ChrisNano10) January 10, 2018
Especially, for an inside linebacker, he does some special stuff. So why in the world hasn’t a single person mocked him to the Chicago Bears at #8 overall?
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Sure, the Bears have Danny Trevathan and Nick Kwiatkowski penciled in as stars at inside linebacker. But you did see what happened to the Bears’ linebacking corps last year, right?
Can anyone make the argument that getting more talent at that position, especially a guy who could be the best defensive player in this draft, shouldn’t be on the table?
Besides, if we’re going to keep it 100, if the Bears selected Smith, he probably supplants Kwiatkowski like immediately.
Smith’s lack of prototypical size at 6-foot-1, approximately 220 pounds might turn people off, especially if people worry about him taking on blocks up the middle. That’s understandable.
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But again, if you want a fast, angry defense that can throttle people and take away this era’s dynamic skill players, Roquan Smith is a guy you want.
If you don’t think he can possibly succeed in the NFL, throw on some tape of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Telvin Smith and Myles Jack. They’ve done just fine for themselves.
Oh yeah, and while you’re at it, imagine a player like that on the Chicago Bears. And let’s put it this way: if you’re passing up Smith for Ridley, you’re doing it wrong if you really believe in “best player available”.