Chicago Bears: Reaction to the Roquan Smith pick
The Chicago Bears made their 2018 NFL Draft first round pick, selecting Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith. We gauge the reaction to the pick from Bears Nation.
The 2018 NFL Draft is here! The Chicago Bears make their pick. They reunite linebacker Leonard Floyd with his former Georgia teammate, Roquan Smith.
In a draft that started out crazy (really, Baker Mayfield as the top choice?), and quarterbacks coming off the board quickly, things didn’t start the way many experts predicted (does it ever though?). As crazy as the picks got, however, the Bears ended up looking at the picks many figured they’d make — either Smith or Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
Other than Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson, those two names were the ones most talked about connected to the Bears. However, Nelson went to the Indianapolis Colts at sixth overall. So, between Smith and Edmunds (I predicted Edmunds), the Bears went with Smith.
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Smith is a new-age linebacker. When we look back, he could be the first of a new type of linebacker. Traditional scouts view Smith, measuring in at 6-1 and weighing 236 pounds, as undersized. He is an athletic freak, though, running a 4.51-second 40 and being able to run sideline-to-sideline with ease. Also, his intelligence and instincts are off the chart. He can get into the backfield quickly, but then turn around and cover any receiver an opposing offense has.
Smith has the ability to be a Pro Bowl player. He’ll become another fan favorite with his hard-hitting style and could be another in the long line of Chicago Bears great linebackers.
How did the pick go over? I’d say pretty excited is a good way to describe the reaction.
Vic Fangio hit a hole in one in the morning and then gets a dynamic linebacker for his Bears defense in Roquan Smith.
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) April 27, 2018
A new man in the middle of Chicago's defense!
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 27, 2018
Bears select LB Roquan Smith with the No. 8 pick (@RamTrucks) pic.twitter.com/gbNtcsAmjj
With the 8th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select — Roquan Smith, Linebacker, Georgia.
— Flo Ottis (@flo_ottis) April 27, 2018
LETS FREAKIN GOOO! MY GUY!
🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/2RirGWwCA2
Next: NFL Draft 2018: Grades for each first-round pick
Today there is some excitement for the pick. Mike Mayock, a draft expert for the NFL Network, said on-air that the defensive MVP for the Bears last season was defensive coordinator Vic Fangio for developing a top-ten defense without a great deal of elite talent. He said they now have it with Smith. Hopefully, he fulfills the expectations placed on him.