The Chicago Bears are having a terrific preseason as they are 2-0, and their rookies are making noticeable and standout plays. Despite all the things going right for Chicago, the contract holdout of linebacker Roquan Smith continues to dominate the headlines as it pertains to and involves the team. Although the holdout hasn't been resolved, the success the Bears' rookies are having on the field is giving the front office leverage in negotiations with Smith.

The Potential Of Chicago's 2022 Draft Class Makes Smith Expendable

Through the two preseason games of 2022, the biggest takeaway for the Bears has been the stellar play of their rookies, especially those drafted by the team in this year's NFL Draft. Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, Velus Jones Jr, Braxton Jones, Dominique Robinson, Trestan Ebner, and Jack Sanborn all have had standout plays during Chicago's two preseason games. The positivity surrounding the rookies provides first-year general manager Ryan Poles with immense early creditability as a promising talent evaluator. Poles' early success gives promise to the Bears' current rebuild as the team is expected to be uncompetitive for the next few seasons. The need to have talent during the rebuild is what gave Smith leverage in contract negotiations with Chicago as the team needed to hold on to proven young talent as the linebacker is regarded as one of the best linebackers in the league currently. The longer the holdout continues, the longer the negotiations begin to favor Poles and Bears' management.

If a new contract-extension isn't negotiated, it allows for the Bears' to either force Smith to play on the final-year of his rookie contract or trade the linebacker to another team for a player or future draft selections. With the promising ability Chicago's rookie players are displaying in the preseason, this emboldens Poles to trade the disgruntled linebacker for draft capital. Early in training camp a few weeks ago, Smith did request a trade from the Bears due to the team not acting in good faith with negotiations. The closer Chicago gets to the regular season without a new deal with Smith, it appears likely the team could trade the former seventh overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. Chicago Bears' ownership could side with Poles, given the rookies' success displayed early on. The Bears could not only save a significant amount of money by not re-signing Smith to a near 100-million dollar deal, but they also could receive high-end draft selections in return for the linebacker.

Despite the risk of losing an elite-level player in Smith, Chicago could replace the linebacker in the 2023 NFL Draft with a prospect of similar caliber due to the Bears' having an additional first or second-round selection from a trade or sign a free agent next offseason. If the Bears' rookies develop into quality talents that accelerate the team's rebuild, it will further provide promise that Poles is a general manager capable of finding elite-level talent in next year's NFL Draft.

Poles' Potential Drafting Capabilities Allows Chicago To Rebuild Quicker Without Smith

Although Losing Smith would be costly as the linebacker has averaged 131 total tackles over his young four-year career, it could benefit Chicago more to play without the talent. The Bears' defense is better if they have their best defensive player on the field for the 2022 season, but they risk winning games that could adversely affect their draft positioning in 2023. With Smith, the Bears could win one or two more games than expected, altering their draft position by ten spots in the 2023 NFL Draft. The change in draft position could be the difference between drafting an elite-level prospect and drafting an above-average college player.

If Poles trades Smith, it could result in the Bears having three selections in the first two rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft. Given the promising potential of Gordon and Brisker, as both were drafted in the second round this year, imagine what type of prospects Chicago's general manager could do with either one or two first-round selections if the team trades Smith at his highest value. Poles' promising talent evaluation capabilities and the chance to save money makes Smith expendable and takes away his leverage in holding out from Chicago. The linebacker's value to the Bears decreases the longer the hold out progresses, especially if the Bears' front office is making every offer they can to resolve the matter before seeking out a potential trade. Within three weeks, Smith has gone from having the upper-hand in negotiations to now Chicago's management gaining leverage in their favor.

The shift in who has leverage is due to Poles' first draft class' early success this preseason. If a contract cant be reached before the start of the season and the Bears' rookies, including Brisker, Gordon, and Robinson, make an impact, the team could potentially trade Smith during the season, knowing they have young talent in place to build around. The elite linebacker has held out for too long to where he has lost the leverage he had just weeks ago.