Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson has posted incredible numbers in recent years, despite rarely having the benefit of consistent quarterback play. If the 27-year-old was hopeful to cash in this offseason with a new team, he’ll likely have to wait another year.
Robinson signed a three-year, $42 million contract with Chicago in the 2018 offseason. With Mitchell Trubisky impressing in his second season, the Bears seemingly had an excellent quarterback-receiver duo for years to come. While Robinson kept playing at a high level, Trubisky regressed and this offense struggled.
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As the Bears conduct their search for a quarterback to replace Trubisky, the front office is also thinking about providing that future signal-caller with weapons.
Allen Robinson expected to receive the franchise tag from Chicago Bears
According to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, the Bears are prepared to place the $16 million franchise tag on Allen Robinson this offseason. The exclusive tag would prevent him from hitting free agency, giving the organization additional time to negotiate a long-term contract with him.
Negotiations between the two sides didn’t go well this past season. The Bears reportedly didn’t engage in discussions, pushing the dialogue into the regular season. Playing on the final year of his contract, Robinson seemingly asked for a trade and expressed frustration over a perceived lack of respect from the organization.
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Despite all of that and inconsistency at quarterback, he still posted outstanding statistics. He finished the season with 1,250 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 102 receptions. He graded as a top-five receiver by Pro Football Focus, despite receiving the most (61) inaccurate targets among receivers.
Robinson has recorded consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in Chicago and with strong hands as a 6-foot-2 receiver, he also makes for an excellent red-zone threat. If he became an unrestricted free agent, still early in his prime, he could net a multi-year deal worth $17-plus million.
Forcing Robinson to stay another year certainly wouldn’t help this relationship. He likely wants the opportunity to compete for a Super Bowl and desires playing for a high-end quarterback. As of now, those are two things that the Bears can’t offer him. While there’s a chance trading for Carson Wentz might change that, this is another situation where an NFL star could become disgruntled with his current team.