Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith opened up about his trade from the Chicago Bears in a recent interview and claimed he was told he wasn’t going to be traded.
Smith told The Athletic that he was called into new general manager Ryan Poles’ office right after he took over the position and was told that the defense would be built around the All-Pro linebacker, which would come with a contract extension.
But after contract negotiations stalled during training camp, Smith avoided practice and requested a trade.
“I thought Poles would ship me out, but he told me numerous times, ‘I don’t plan to trade you at all,’” Smith told The Athletic. “So I was like, ‘I guess I won’t be going anywhere.’ He said we’d talk at the end of the season.”
The Bears traded Smith to the Ravens at the trade deadline for a pair of draft picks and Smith couldn’t be happier to be with a contending team that will appreciate him and want him long-term.
In five games played for the Ravens, he has recorded 37 tackles and two sacks. He also recorded an interception this past Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
