Chicago Bears fans in love with Roquan Smith pick
Last night, the Chicago Bears selected Georgia inside linebacker Roquan Smith with the No. 8 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Here’s what the fans had to say about the move.
If there’s one thing that Chicago Bears fans seem to universally love, it’s seeing a dominant defense throttle opponents every Sunday. In particular, it just doesn’t seem like a real Bears defense unless a dynamic middle linebacker is prowling the middle of the field.
Yesterday, the Bears made a move toward securing both of those visions for 2018 and beyond, selecting star Georgia Bulldogs inside linebacker Roquan Smith with the eighth-overall pick Thursday night.
After passing on defense in favor of Mitch Trubisky in last year’s first round, Ryan Pace gave the Chicago Bears fans the defensive red meat they were craving this time around.
And the fans and media alike gobbled it up like a perfectly cooked steak.
Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan as ILB and Leonard Floyd as an edge rusher, Maybe Arden Keys as the other edge rusher... that is going to be a scary 3-4 defense.
— T Strole (@Thomas_Strole2) April 27, 2018
Update: still need help, can’t stop watching Roquan Smith tackle the entire SEC
— AJohn (@Ajohn1311) April 27, 2018
LB Roquan Smith...Speed to the ball. #Bears pic.twitter.com/YBnj80sJCU
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) April 27, 2018
Possibly the only person who might love this move more than the fans is Vic Fangio. While it might be too early to suggest that Smith and Danny Trevathan will be the new Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman, Fangio thrives on having fast, aggressive linebackers devouring plays behind a space-eating front.
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With Eddie Goldman, Akiem Hicks and a developing tandem of Roy Robertson-Harris and Jonathan Bullard in front of him, Smith is perfectly positioned to have a strong year as a rookie.
Also, following a few years of picking players based more on upside than true NFL-readiness, Pace’s selection of Smith suggests a shift in philosophy.
Specifically, the Chicago Bears want guys who will be ready to dominate right now, not later.
Sure, they could’ve grabbed Tremaine Edmunds (whom I really liked) or Marcus Davenport, who might serve their pass-rush needs better. But Smith is a far better player than either of those guys right now, and he’s such a good fit for this defense that maybe it was too hard to ignore.
Next: Best available players for Bears in Round 2
Ultimately, fans seemed to love grabbing that type of player now rather than a guy you have to wait a few years for.
And why shouldn’t they? This type of move tells them that the Bears fully intend to try to win now. Their quarterback and head coach are in place. They have an e