Roquan Daevon Smith (born April 8, 1997) is an American football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia. Smith became the first Georgia Bulldog to win the Butkus Award.
On April 27, 2021, the Bears exercised the fifth-year option on Smith's contract, which guarantees a salary of $9.7 million for the 2022 season. On September 19, Smith intercepted a pass by Joe Burrow and returned it 53 yards for his first defensive touchdown in a 20–17 win against the Cincinnati Bengals. On November 8, Smith recorded a sack alongside 12 total tackles in a 29–27 Monday Night Football loss which saw the Bears fall to a 3–6 record on the season. On November 21, Smith recorded a career-high total of 17 tackles, two of which were tackles for losses, in a 16–14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. It was the most tackles by a Bears player in a single game since Brian Urlacher had 19 in 2006. Smith finished the season with one interception and 163 total tackles, the fifth-most in the NFL. He was named to NFL.com's All-Pro team and the Associated Press' second team All-Pro. He was ranked 84th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.
During the Bears' 41–17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16, Smith intercepted Mike Glennon twice to become the first Bears player with multiple interceptions in a game since Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in 2019. Smith was also the team's first linebacker to achieve the feat since Lance Briggs in 2008. The Bears made it back to the playoffs, for the second time in Smith's career. However, he was inactive in their appearance, a 21–9 loss against the New Orleans Saints, after suffering an elbow injury in the final game of the season.
While at the University of Georgia, Smith played college football under head coaches Mark Richt and Kirby Smart. As a true freshman at Georgia in 2015, Smith played in 12 games and recorded 20 tackles. As a sophomore in 2016, he started 10 of 13 games, recording 95 tackles.
In 2017, Smith was named MVP of the SEC Championship Game, as well as SEC Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press. He became the first Georgia Bulldog to win the Butkus Award. Smith decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and entered the 2018 NFL draft.
Smith finished the season with 121 tackles, five sacks, five passes defended, and one interception. He received an overall grade of 67.4 from Pro Football Focus in 2018, which ranked him as the 39th highest grade among all qualifying linebackers, and was selected as Pro Bowl alternate.
On May 8, 2018, nearly two weeks after being drafted, it was reported that Smith's car was burglarized in Athens, Georgia, where a team-issued iPad along with some of Smith's personal belongings, including his college jerseys, helmet, and awards were stolen from his car. However, the next day, the stolen items were recovered.
On January 6, 2019, in the Bears' 16–15 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in a Wild Card playoff game, Smith led the team with seven tackles and made an interception off Nick Foles.
In Week 2 against the Denver Broncos, Smith recorded a team high 13 tackles as the Bears won 16–14. In Week 11 against the Rams on Sunday Night Football, Smith recorded a team high 11 tackles and intercepted a pass thrown by Jared Goff in the 17–7 loss. In Week 13 against the Lions on Thanksgiving Day, Smith recorded a team high 15 tackles and sacked rookie quarterback David Blough twice in the 24–20 win. On December 9, 2019, Smith was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn pectoral in Week 14.
In early August 2022, Smith announced that while he tried to negotiate a contract extension during the offseason, he has requested the Bears trade him stating the reason being the "new front office regime doesn't value me here." Smith did report to Bears' training camp, but refused to practice. On August 20, Smith ended his hold out from practices and stated he would no longer continue negotiating with the Bears' front office for the remainder of the 2022 season. On September 25, Smith recorded 16 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and an interception, during a 23–20 win over the Texans.
On October 31, 2022, Smith was traded to the Ravens for A. J. Klein, a 2023 second round pick, and a 2023 fifth round pick. He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for December. He was named to the Pro Bowl and earned first team All-Pro honors. He finished the 2022 season with 169 total tackles (103 solo), 4.5 sacks, three interceptions, and six passes defended. On January 10, 2023, Smith signed a five-year, $100 million extension with the Ravens, including $45 million fully guaranteed with $60 million in total guarantees, making him the highest paid linebacker in the league. The deal was also notable because Smith does not have an agent and negotiated it himself. He was ranked 24th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.
In May 2023, Smith changed his number to '0', becoming the first Raven ever to wear that number. On November 12, 2023, Smith was credited with a career-high 21 tackles (14 solo) in a loss to the Cleveland Browns. He and Ray Lewis are the only Ravens in franchise history to record at least 20 tackles in a single game. Smith also became the first NFL defensive player in 2023 to record 20+ tackles in a single game.