Roquan Smith glad Bears traded him to Ravens so “my career is not going down the drain”

Roquan Smith spent the entirety of his NFL career with the Bears before being traded to the Ravens midway through last season. Initially taken aback by the trade, Smith quickly found himself thrilled to be part of a team contending for the Super Bowl.

The Ravens are currently one of the top picks for Super Bowl contenders, while the Bears have struggled with a 2-16 record since parting ways with Smith, marking the worst in the NFL. Smith is relieved to have left Chicago.

“It’s pretty wild to think back on when I was first traded,” Smith shared with Albert Breer of SI.com. “It was bittersweet for me, coming from Chicago, for all the right reasons. But if I had stayed there, I wouldn’t have had the chance to compete for a title anytime soon. Once I came over here, it took me some time, a couple of weeks, to realize the depth of talent and the great people on this team. They really bring in exceptional individuals. Knowing I have the opportunity to compete for a title year in and year out with the talent we have makes me incredibly happy, especially knowing my career is not going down the drain by playing somewhere without true title prospects.”

Smith believes that the Ravens are the team he was destined to play for.

“I really take pride in coming here,” Smith remarked. “We embody it every single day, from top to bottom. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of such a great organization.”

The 26-year-old Smith inked a $100 million contract with the Ravens for five years and seems poised to spend the prime of his career in Baltimore, exactly where he wants to be.