Chicago Bears draft Roquan Smith: Instant grade and analysis

The Chicago Bears selected Roquan Smith with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. Here is all you need to know about Smith, including our grade.

The Chicago Bears are historically all about defense and might have gotten the very best defensive player in this draft. Chicago got an absolute steal by staying at No. 8. Their next potential star linebacker could be Roquan Smith out of the University of Georgia.

Strengths

Smith is one of the most complete linebackers in the entire NFL draft. A two year starter for the Georgia Bulldogs, he is a vocal leader that you want from a middle linebacker. He has been an ultra productive man in the middle for the defense in a tough SEC. Few players have the read and react skills that Smith brings to the table. He is able to diagnose a play and attack it within milliseconds. On the field his athleticism was his biggest strength.

A true sideline-to-sideline player who is strong in coverage. There are few linebackers with his tackling ability and coverage skills wrapped together. Smith is not going to have to come off the field in any sub packages. When on the field, he immediately takes over the second level of any defense and give opposing offenses fits with his athleticism from the linebacker position.

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Weaknesses

The biggest knock on Smith is his size. There just are not many middle linebackers who are 6-foot-1 and 236 pounds. That size allows him to be so athletic, but can cause issues at the next level. While Smith played in the SEC, there are concerns that the interior lineman at the next level will be able to get on him in a hurry and disrupt his path to the ball.

As a player the relies heavily on his athleticism, it will need to be seen if he can do it against NFL lineman. Due to his crazy speed and agility, he is not refined in shedding blocks with hand technique either. If he gets caught up in the fray, Smith can get stuck behind plays.

Grade

Smith has drawn comparisons to linebackers the like of Deion Jones, Luke Kuechly, Derrick Brooks and even Ray Lewis. Though he may not be great at getting after the quarterback, he is elite in coverage and the ideal linebacker for this era of the NFL.

Grade: A+