Allen Robinson is the focus of the Chicago Bears in terms of contract extensions. This should not be a shock. He’s their best offensive player and it’s not close. Getting him locked up long-term is a must. However, he’s not the only notable name on that side of the ball who has an expiring contract. Running back Tarik Cohen is in that same situation.
The debate on the versatile back is ongoing among Bears fans. Many view him as a liability after his disappointing 2019 season. One where he averaged just 3.3 yards per carry and failed to crack 500 yards receiving despite hauling in more than 70 catches. His unwillingness to try for extra yardage on several plays and settling for running out of bounds was a persistent sticking point.
Some have called for him to be traded. So the idea of actually retaining him beyond 2020 isn’t even on the radar. Yet it is something the Bears are likely thinking about. Cohen has shown in the past he can be a legitimate weapon on offense. One that is hard to game plan against. Keeping him could still have value provided he rebounds. The problem would be the price tag.
Well, that may not be a huge concern. Thanks to the realities of COVID-19 and the financial impact it’s making on the league, several top running backs will be free agents in 2021. That does nothing to help Cohen, but it’s great news for the Bears.
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Tarik Cohen could be better off looking to stay put
Anybody with a basic understanding of economics knows what this means. When the demand exceeds the supply, the price goes up. When the supply exceeds the demand, the price goes down. Cohen has his niche on a football field but the odds of him getting any sort of big-money deal amidst that crowd of big names is almost impossible.
GM Ryan Pace doesn’t have a history of giving significant money to running backs. See Jordan Howard for a reminder. If Cohen tries to play hardball, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Bears just let him walk. The odds are he won’t get a better offer from any other team out there. His best course of action could end up being a team-friendly deal to stay where he is comfortable.
While unfortunate for his bottom line, it could be a stroke of good fortune for a Bears offense that needs to retain what few playmakers it has.
