The Chicago Bears don’t really know where they’re at yet in terms of the NFL trade deadline. Will they be buyers? Will they be sellers? Being 3-3 at this point probably isn’t helping. That is why the next two games against the Buccaneers and 49ers will go a long way in determining what GM Ryan Pace plans to do. Either he could make one more aggressive move to give his team some help or he can look to ship out a veteran or two for future assets. Two losses would steer things towards the latter. This is where Allen Robinson comes in.
The veteran receiver hasn’t gotten off to the best start this year. Much of that is due to the inconsistency at quarterback with Andy Dalton getting hurt and now a rookie in Justin Fields struggling. Combine that with a real possibility he leaves in free agency next offseason? Many think this is the last chance Pace will have to get something in return for him.
If the Bears did go through with it, who are some teams that might bite? Here are three worth considering.
These 3 teams feel like logical Allen Robinson landing spots
New England Patriots
Bill Belichick and his team were ultra-aggressive in free agency this year trying to upgrade the offense. Their efforts have produced mixed results. Jacoby Meyers and Kendrick Bourne have formed an interesting tandem for rookie QB Mac Jones but nobody would accuse them of being legitimate threats that opposing teams fear. Bringing in somebody like Robinson might be the go-to target they’ve been missing for a long time.
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The tricky part is the salary cap. New England has just under $6 million in space to work with right now. That wouldn’t be enough. They would need to make some moves in order to clear some space in order to facilitate the deal. This isn’t out of the question. Certain deals can be restructured with relative ease. If the Patriots feel they have a shot at a late run to the wild card? This is a move that would give them a big push.
Philadelphia Eagles
Do the Eagles need Allen Robinson? Not necessarily. While their passing game hasn’t been great, they do have two young receivers worth nothing in Quez Watkins and rookie DeVonta Smith. That said, the team has made it clear from the start that they are all-in on Jalen Hurts as their quarterback. So it would make total sense for them to fortify his arsenal with a reliable veteran to compliment the youngsters.
The NFC is quite top-heavy this year. So the race for the wild card spots is wide open. Despite their disappointing start, Philadelphia is still in the mix. They have to score more points though. The good news is they have more than enough cap space to take on Robinson’s contract. A trio of him, Smith, and Watkins could rival anything in that division.
Washington Football Team
Many of the issues surrounding their passing attack can be attributed to the quarterback. They lost Ryan Fitzpatrick to an injury early in the season and have been running with backup Taylor Heinicke ever since. The truth is Washington isn’t getting enough from their wide receiver position. Terry McLaurin continues to be great with 428 yards but the next closest is Adam Humphries with 149. They have no viable second option.
Allen Robinson would clearly change that. He and McLaurin would form quite a duo, giving the team more explosiveness through the air. Even with somebody like Heinicke at quarterback. Cap-wise? They’re also in decent shape at over $11 million with room to make more. So if they’re looking to stay in the wild card hunt, an aggressive play for another weapon makes sense.