A lot of Chicago Bears fans are waiting and wondering what is going to happen with wide receiver Allen Robinson. He was by far the best option on the Bears offense in 2019. Entering the final year of his current contract. he undoubtedly knows he has leverage in talks regarding an extension. This might explain why talks have gone slower than a lot of people would like. After early optimism that a deal might be imminent, Robinson poured cold water on that.
While the wide receiver continues to make it clear that he wants to stay in Chicago, he also hasn’t been subtle about what the Bears need to do to make it happen. They need to pay up. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune didn’t sugarcoat it. He’s of the belief Robinson is seeking top dollar and that the two sides aren’t as close to an agreement as many had hoped.
“There’s little doubt in my mind Robinson is seeking a significant raise as he has been the only reliable member of the Bears offense the last two seasons. For a player to maximize his leverage, he needs to be on the free market, and the 26-year-old Robinson seems unlikely to get there as the Bears could secure him with the franchise tag a year from now. I expect Robinson to set his aim in the range of $20 million per season, especially knowing the salary cap is expected to climb significantly in the next few years. He will want to look ahead when negotiating.
I don’t think the sides are close to an agreement, which is understandable because the Bears have been busy in free agency and preparing for the draft. There’s no urgency at this point on the calendar.”
Allen Robinson likely on hold until the summer
While getting Robinson signed quickly would be great news, the reality is the Bears can’t handle all their priorities at once. The nature of the COVID-19 outbreak has made it essential for them to place their full attention on free agency and the draft. The wide receiver has expressed optimism that things will work out but is leaving the details to his agenda. Until the team gets serious about talks, there isn’t going to be much movement.
While $20 million per year seems like a lot, it’s not like the Bears have much choice. Robinson isn’t dumb. He knows he’s the best player on that offense by a considerable margin and has followed the new CBA closely. He understands full well the salary cap will spike sharply and intends to take advantage of it. As any good businessman would. It falls to Pace to find a way to structure the deal where it benefits both sides.
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That will take time.
