The entire Allen Robinson situation is a frustrating one. Not just for the receiver himself but Chicago Bears fans as well. Under normal circumstances, it’s a safe bet a contract extension would’ve happened already for the star receiver. However, his high price tag coupled with the untimely drop of the league salary cap due to COVID-19 put the organization in a tough spot. Now it’s feared Robinson may end up leaving next offseason.
This puts GM Ryan Pace in a tricky position. Does he let the receiver walk and perhaps secure a future compensatory draft pick in 2023? Or does he look to move Robinson by the end of October before the trade deadline? Much of that depends on where the Bears’ record is in a few weeks. If it looks like they’re fading? Then moving Robinson might make sense. It also depends on what they can get for him.
Some teams are bound to be interested.
Targets of his caliber becoming available are rare. So the Bears should be able to drum up a market if they give the green light. In terms of a return, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report had one possible package in mind. It involved a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, a team Pace has done business with in the past. Unfortunately, Knox’s proposal was less than stellar and the reactions were about what you’d expect from Bears fans.
Biggest NFL trades that could still happen after the Stephon Gilmore deal 👀
More here: https://t.co/eTGMqzQqj5 pic.twitter.com/gxxkxiG2nZ
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) October 9, 2021
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“While the Bears could still make a playoff run, they aren’t going to challenge for a championship in 2021. That means they should focus on getting something in return for standout receiver Allen Robinson II…
…Philadelphia is getting solid production out of 2021 first-round pick DeVonta Smith and 2020 sixth-round pick Quez Watkins, but 2020 first-rounder Jalen Reagor continues to underwhelm for the Eagles. Flipping him for Robinson and a late-round pick could help them recoup value in case he winds up being a bust.”
Robinson and a late round pick for a wide receiver who has 512 yards and two touchdowns so far in his career. It would be easy to laugh if that were a joke but somehow it’s dead serious. What benefit is there in this deal for the Bears? They lose their best offensive player and another draft pick in exchange for a player who is proving not to be any good. He just happens to run really fast.
#Eagles fans would love this trade, which would send their 1st round pick from a year ago for a 28 year old WR in a contract year. That tells you everything you need to know about how bad Jalen Reagor has been so far in his career. https://t.co/PZmy3Kzk2N
— Shane Haff (@ShaneHaffNFL) October 9, 2021
Funniest part of this play:
A) Richard Rodgers block attempt
B) Jalen Reagor route
C) Wentz throw
D) Rodgers tackle attemptpic.twitter.com/GR4WEAmK4x— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 22, 2020
Allen Robinson would fetch more than that
Under the right circumstances, it isn’t crazy to think a team would give up a 3rd or even a 2nd round pick. This is based on team needs as well as whether they can secure him to a long-term extension. Remember the Bears would likely secure a 3rd round compensatory pick in 2023 if Robinson walks next March. Provided of course they don’t go on a spending spree in free agency. So setting the price tag at a 3rd in 2022 would make sense.
The Bears trading him would be about one thing. Acquiring draft assets. Giving up one for the rights to a receiver who is far worse than Allen Robinson makes less than zero sense. Mr. Knox should’ve let that thing bake in the oven a little longer. In fact, Robinson for Reagor and that late round pick would’ve made far more sense. All that aside, this is still a story that will require careful viewing.
This game against the Raiders may determine the course.
A win would keep the Bears in the playoff picture for the time being and make them less willing to go into sales mode. A loss followed by games against Green Bay and Tampa Bay could swiftly change that. Robinson no doubt hopes to kick up his stat production in hopes of elevating his price tag along the way.