A person claiming to represent Roquan Smith has reportedly made calls to other NFL teams to gauge interest in a potential trade.
According to a report, someone representing the Chicago Bears linebacker isn’t certified by the NFL Players Association as an agent, and such contact would nonetheless be barred since Smith hasn’t been granted permission by the Bears to speak with rival front offices, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
The PFT report doesn’t state whether Smith is aware of the “impermissible contact.”
Smith is entering the final season of his rookie contract and is scheduled to earn a $9.7 million base salary as part of a fifth-year option picked up by the Bears in May 2021.
The 2018 first-round pick released a statement days ago saying the organization has “refused to negotiate in good faith”
Smith has been part of a new trend around the league with players deciding to “hold in” as they show up for training camp in an effort to avoid fines typically associated with a holdout but not taking part in practices.
Smith has recorded 525 total tackles, 17 passes defended, 14 sacks, five interceptions, and a forced fumble in 61 games across four seasons with the Bears. He’s been voted a Second Team All-Pro each of the past two years.
The Bears play their first preseason game Saturday when it hosts the Kansas City Chiefs at Solider Field.
