One Year Later, Roquan Smith Grateful for 'Bittersweet' Trade to Baltimore Ravens

Roquan Smith spoke about his fit with the Baltimore Ravens as they've ascended to the top of the AFC.

In the words of Frank Sinatra, you're a lucky fellow, Mr. Smith.

It's increasingly apparent that linebacker Roquan Smith escaped the grasp of his original NFL employers just in time: in the 373 days since the Halloween 2022 trade that sent Smith to the Baltimore Ravens, things have been scary for the Chicago Bears, who have gone 2-16 in that year-plus. 

"It’s pretty crazy thinking back to when I was initially traded," Smith recalled to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer. "It was bittersweet for me, just knowing Chicago and rightfully so. But if I would’ve stayed there, honestly, (I) wouldn’t have been able to compete for a title anytime soon." 

Trading a franchise cornerstone to a contender on the cusp of something greater certainly isn't out of the ordinary in the NFL or any of its fellow professional leagues. But Smith admires that, in Baltimore, he's a complement, not a crutch. 

"It took me a while, like a couple of weeks, to really realize how stacked this team was, as well as how many good people there are on this team, and how they just bring in truly good people," he continued. “It makes me so happy, just knowing my career is not going down the drain, in the sense of playing somewhere where I’m not truly competing for a title.”

Smith is safe and sound in Baltimore but his opponents are anything but: the arrival of 2018's eighth overall pick has brought about a defensive revolution that's starting to resemble the efforts of the historic turn-of-the-century group. Combined with a restocked offensive showcase and reliable special teams, the defense has allowed the Ravens (7-2) to take the next step in their AFC revolution, currently sharing the rights to the top seed in the conference with the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. 

The linebacker's Baltimore box scores perhaps aren't the eye-poppers that he accumulated in Chicago (i.e. a 2020 All-Pro breakout that saw him earn 18 tackles for a loss). But, impressive as Smith's Windy City willingness was to put the Bears' defense on his back, similar statistical dedication frankly hasn't been necessary in purple.

Smith (0) remains grateful for his "bittersweet" departure from the Chicago Bears / USA TODAY SPORTS

Baltimore's defense has particularly impressed in high-profile games, including last weekend's 37-3 thrashing of the Seattle Seahawks, the former leaders of the NFC West. Smith recorded five tackles in the win, which saw the visiting Seahawks muster only 151 yards and six first downs. That win came just two weeks after the Ravens tamed another interconference leader, the NFC North's Detroit Lions, in a similarly staged 38-6 shellacking, one that saw Smith earn eight tackles and a pass breakup.

As it stands, Baltimore not only holds a 4-1 record against teams stationed on the NFL brackets at the de facto midway point of the season, but it also holds a plus-87 advantage in those contests. 

Smith is no doubt an expensive accessory to the Ravens' path to the Super Bowl, as he's currently working through the first season of a five-year, $100 million contract (with $60 million guaranteed from the get-go). But his comments hint at a defender who is well-versed in the history of the purple-and-black, ones that recognize that, dominant as some of the who wore the bird head sticker were, it was team efforts that eventually led to Vince Lombardi Trophy hoists. 

"It means the world to me, being a Raven,” Smith emotionally declared. “They came and got me when I was in Chicago and just all the love they showed me throughout my time here, I just only imagine it’s going to grow even bigger."

"There’s something about that makes you want to go even harder, with all the legends that came before me, like Ed (Reed), Ray (Lewis), Bart (Scott) … When I just think about it from that perspective, man, it makes me proud just knowing that I’m playing behind such a historic tradition. ... How they set the standard for being a Raven, I believe it’s playing lights out on the defensive side of the ball."

Smith and the Ravens face another formidable challenge on Sunday afternoon when they face the rival Cleveland Browns at home (1 p.m. ET, Fox).