NFL Draft 2018: Bears Pick Georgia LB Roquan Smith At No. 8

CHICAGO, IL — In an effort to upgrade its defense, the Chicago Bears chose Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith with eighth pick of the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday. Smith will join a formidable Bears starting linebacking corps that already includes Danny Trevathan and Leonard Floyd.

In three years with the Bulldogs, Smith had 252 tackles in his college career. In his last season at Georgia, he had 137 tackles and 6.5 sacks, and he won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker, a fitting honor for a future Bear.

Smith wasted no time endearing himself to the Bears faithful.

"What they can expect the minute I arrive is a relentless guy,” Smith said in a teleconference after he was drafted, according to the Chicago Tribune.

"I’m beyond excited," he added. "I can’t put into words how excited I am about this opportunity. I’m ready to give the city of Chicago everything I have in me."

He also recorded a message for fans that was posted on the Bears' Twitter feed:

Bears fans were quick to reach out to Smith on his Instgram account, welcoming the newest member of the team to Chicago. They – along with draft observers — also praised the pick on Twitter.

Earlier in the draft, the Cleveland Browns chose Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield with the first overall pick and then took Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward with the No. 4 pick. The New York Giants picked Penn State running back Saquon Barkley at No. 2, and the New York Jets chose USC quarterback Sam Darnold at No. 3. The Denver Broncos picked NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb to round out the top five draft selections.

Last year, the Bears pulled off a shocking NFL draft day move by trading up one first-round spot to No. 2 in order to take quarterback Mitch Trubisky. The move was especially surprising to fans and draft observers given the Bears had signed Mike Glennon, the backup quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to a three-year, $45 million deal in the offseason.

But what appeared perplexing in April 2017 proved to be downright prescient by the regular season. Trubisky took to the starting role early in the season, and he appears to be the Bears' quarterback of the future.

While it was unlikely the Chicago would pull off a similar stunning trade in this year's draft, the Bears did have the No. 8 pick. That put them in a good position to take an impact player who could reap big dividends in 2018.

RELATED: Mitch Trubisky To Chicago Bears After Trade For 2nd Pick

So who had the Bears eyeing at the No. 8 spot? Most mock drafts had Chicago picking Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, a prospect some are saying is the best offensive lineman in the 2018 draft. Nelson would fill the hole left by cut left guard Josh Sitton and give the developing Trubisky good protection.

But the Indianapolis Colts picked Nelson at No. 6. That left the door open for Chicago to upgrade its defense.

And while last year's decision to trade up for Trubisky seems like a smart move, it does have some repercussions for the 2018 draft. The Bears gave up a third-round pick — a round that can be very profitable for teams — in this year's draft in order to move up to No. 2 in 2017.

Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith receives his Chicago Bears jersey from Commissioner Roger Goodell during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images)