Bears rookie Roquan Smith unsigned due to helmet rule concerns

The Chicago Bears have yet to sign rookie linebacker Roquan Smith, and head coach Matt Nagy said Saturday the dispute is linked to the NFL's new rules on lowering the helmet during a tackle.

"(The helmet rule) is part of the issue with it," Nagy said of the contract impasse, according to the Chicago Tribune's Colleen Kane and Rich Campbell. "As far as the details, I'm not going to get into all of that right now. That wouldn't be fair to either party, but there's some of that to it."

It's unclear what the other problems preventing a deal could be. Smith was selected eighth overall by the Bears in April's draft, making him the first linebacker to come off the board.

The 21-year-old is concerned about the financial impact the helmet rules and their subsequent penalties could have on him, prompting him to ask for certain clauses in his deal.

"For both sides, it's more of a language deal, a language-type deal," Nagy added, per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. "Again, for me, as a first-year head coach going through this, my thing is just collaborating with (general manager) Ryan (Pace) and what they have going on with the agent. And making sure that we understand, together, (that) I need to, as a head coach just continue to keep plugging away with what we have and who we have."

Smith and New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, the third overall pick, are the only two rookies still unsigned.

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