Roquan Smith was a rarity being a top ten pick at the linebacker position. Although two rookies followed him the year after, it is not often that a linebacker goes that high, and it typically ensures that the team has a lot of faith in that player. Before Roquan Smith was Luke Kuechly in 2012, so if anything Smith helped set the path for players such as Devin Bush and Devin White going so high.
Linebackers drafted in the top 10 since 2000 include Kuechly, Rolando McClain, Jerod Mayo, A.J. Hawk, Ernie Sims, LaVar Arrington, and Brian Urlacher.