When it comes to NFL fans and media, the name Roquan Smith doesn't get mentioned as much as it should. The guy is a two-time second-team All-Pro but has never made the Pro Bowl. It remains one of the most baffling situations for any player in the league. Everything from the numbers to the big plays on tape is there. By all rights, he is on a trajectory to make the Hall of Fame when he retires. It is vexing, to say the least.
However, not everybody is ignorant of Smith's budding greatness. Many of his NFL peers are well aware of what he can do. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN polled several executives, coaches, and players around the league to gauge who they believe are the best off-ball linebackers in football. Darius Leonard led the way at #1, with Micah Parsons already behind him at #2. One would be prepared to see Smith nowhere on the list, but he was nestled at #5. The praise for him was high too.
"Best overall LB in football in my opinion," an NFL coordinator said. "Others might be slightly better in one of the four facets of the game -- run game, pass coverage, blitzer, leadership -- but that kid is top four in every category." What hurts Smith? Where he plays. Leaguewide expectations are low for Chicago in 2022. "If he was in somewhere like Dallas, he'd be celebrated as maybe the best," a Pro Bowl NFL player said. "He doesn't get the credit he probably deserves."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpYodsttMAY&t=5s&ab_channel=ChicagoBears







