It's a fair point. If someone is performing at a top level, they do deserve top level money. But the problem is you simply cant afford to have every position filled by a top player getting top money and still fit under the cap. So you have to decide where to put that money. Since LBs, RBs and S are people with normal sized bodies, there are more of them around. Yes a real difference maker is always rare, but the next guy down is likely to be a better athlete, than say, at OLT where you need to find athletes who are also 6' 6" and 350 pounds.
I dont deny Smith is a great LB about to become a superstar. Im just not sure that spending the big money on defense ought to go to the LB position. Especially after all the head games (two holdouts and a week he just took off during the season). Also he's not even going to play MLB, but the Lance Briggs spot in this cover 2. Briggs wasnt a #1 pick. He wasnt even a #2 pick, he went in the third round.
If we can get a first and a third for Roquan, Id do that now. It's not like we are a player away from a Superbowl.
If Poles can fit him under the cap long term, then great. But if he wants to trade him, and can get good value, I'm ALL for it.
Find me a dominant 3T like Warren Sapp, and pay that guy.