Good Things Happen When Bears Draft 1st Round Inside Linebackers

Roquan Smith is about to step into something that comes with the highest of expectations. Not just in Chicago Bears history but the history of the NFL as a whole. No team is defined by any one position like the Bears are defined by their middle linebackers. To date, they've put four of them in the Hall of Fame. No other franchise is close to that. Even crazier than that is their success in the draft at drafting the position early. Prior to this year, they only took an inside/middle linebacker in the first round twice before. Each time they landed a first ballot Hall of Famer. Talk about pressure on Smith. Of course, it's unreasonable to expect the same from him. Bears fans would settle for him just becoming the good player he can absolutely be. At the same time, people often get so focused on the individual that they tend to overlook the team. After all, these players were drafted to help the Bears defense improve. The best part is that every time they've gone after a first round middle/inside linebacker, the results were instantaneously positive for the team.

Dick Butkus (3rd overall, 1965)

• Bears had the 13th ranked defense in 1964
• Posted the 8th ranked defense his rookie year

Brian Urlacher (9th overall, 2000)

• Bears had the 29th ranked defense in 1999
• Posted the 16th ranked defense his rookie year

[video width="640" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Brian-Urlacher-Early-Stick000004.378-000045.186.mp4"][/video] It's hard to argue those numbers. People talk about how defenses have always been about pass rushers and cornerbacks. They continue to underestimate how valuable an inside linebacker can be. Not just in terms of his playmaking skill but also the branch effect he can have on everyone else. Need a few examples? In 2014, the Seattle Seahawks lost star Bobby Wagner for five games. During that stretch, the defense allowed 24 points or more three times and lost three games. When he returned they allowed nine or fewer points in five of six games and won six-straight to finish the year. In 2016, the Carolina Panthers lost Luke Kuechly for the year after 10 games. Up until that point they'd allowed 30 or more points twice and 100+ yards rushing three times. With him gone they gave up 30 or more points three times in six games and three performances of 100 yards or more on the ground. This was what the Bears had with guys like Urlacher and Butkus. Many feel it's what they can have again with Smith. That's why people should be excited.