David Montgomery has a teammate joining him among the NFL’s top 100 players.
Linebacker Roquan Smith, come on down! You’re No. 84 on the NFL Top 100 list, as voted on by your peers around the NFL:
Of course Smith was going to make this list!
Smith, 25, is coming off consecutive seasons in which he was given second-team All-Pro recognition. On the cusp of entering his fifth season as a pro, Smith has been a stat-sheet stuffer since arriving as the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Four seasons with at least 101 tackles? Smith has that in his bag. At least two sacks from the inside linebacker spot in each of his first four years? Smith has that, too. And not only does Smith ave at least one interception in each season as a pro, his first pick-six was a memorable one against Joe Burrow and the eventual AFC champs.
You’d think the Bears would be falling over themselves to the extend the contract of someone with that type of résumé. But the thing about that is … fades into bushes like that Homer Simpson meme.
Hey now! Smith and the Bears could still reach an extension. And if they can do it soon, all of this nonsense — the hold-in, trade requests, PUP list games, rumors, and conflicting opinions on a “fair” deal will be nothing more than a footnote in Bears history. Plus, if they can get it done, they’ll be securing a player his peers deem as one of the best in the league as he enters his prime. That’s gotta be worth something … right?