Based on what ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit said, the Bears hit a home run selecting Georgia linebacker eighth overall in Thursday's NFL Draft.
Herbstreit offered a glowing review of Smith on ESPN's draft broadcast, saying Smith is a "perfect pick" for the Bears.
“He is a plug and play, first day show up, could be the rookie of the year type of linebacker," Herbstreit said. "Can do it all, in the box, he can play in space.
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“Just a total package and a guy I think steps in right away. With the history of linebackers in Chicago, perfect pick.”
Herbstreit also said defensive coordinators want players like Smith to keep up with how the offensive game is changing in the NFL.
"They want guys who are versatile, not only defend the run but get walked out over at tight end or back and hold their own defending against them," he said. "He can do that. He can blitz, probably the area he improved the most this year is how well he blitzed and the timing of those blitzes. I love the awareness in the pass game, plays almost like a safety.
Mike Mayock also had a positive review of the Bears' pick on NFL Network's draft coverage.
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“They need this kind of talent infusion," Mayock said. "He is today’s NFL off-the-ball linebacker. He can be a four-down player in the NFL.”
While Thursday was great for both Smith and the Bears, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio might just have had the best day of anyone in the organization.
“This has been one heck of a day for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio," Stanford coach David Shaw said on NFL Network. "[He] gets a hole in one today and finds out he’s got the best linebacker in the draft, and some would say the best one or two players in the draft.”