Bears, Allen Robinson fail to reach franchise tag extension

The deadline for NFL groups to signal franchise tagged gamers to a contract extension handed Thursday with the Bears and Allen Robinson unable to succeed in an settlement on a long-term deal. Now, Robinson will play the upcoming season beneath the tag, and he’ll earn $18 million for the yr.

This transfer doesn’t preclude the Bears from signing Robinson to a long-term deal on the finish of the season. They may start negotiations once more subsequent offseason, just like how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signed Shaquil Barrett one yr after failing to return to an settlement throughout the franchise tag extension window. Regardless, Ryan Tempo’s incapacity to succeed in an settlement with Robinson now will harm the crew in the long term.

Let’s say the Bears do determine to increase Robinson subsequent offseason. It’s going to most likely be approaching the heels of one other nice season— possibly even his greatest season in Chicago since he may have Andy Dalton or Justin Fields throwing him the ball— and it’ll possible value the Bears more cash to signal him then, than it could have in the event that they bought a deal achieved now, and even final yr. That clearly offers the Bears much less flexibility to unfold cash round to re-sign gamers like Roquan Smith, or herald new free brokers.

Now let’s say the Bears let Robinson stroll. That is most likely the worst-case situation for the nice of the offense, because the crew would have an unlimited void to fill on the roster. Typical pondering would say, go and discover a extensive receiver within the draft to switch him. That is what the Vikings did by choosing Justin Jefferson after buying and selling away Stefon Diggs, and it labored out nice. The one downside is the Bears don’t have a first-round decide subsequent yr, as they shipped it to New York within the deal to maneuver up for Justin Fields. To be truthful, top-tier WR expertise could be discovered within the second spherical. That’s the place D.Okay. Metcalf and A.J. Brown went in 2019, and the place the Saints scooped Michael Thomas in 2017. However there are many second-round duds too (see: Anthony Miller). Additional, if the Bears determine to switch Robinson by means of the draft, they primarily lock themselves into selecting a wideout with their prime decide, as a substitute of going with one of the best participant obtainable.

If the Bears cannot discover a alternative within the draft, then now we have to have a look at different free brokers. In addition to Robinson, Davante Adams tops the category, and he would clearly be an unbelievable addition to any offense. But when the Packers and Adams can’t come to an settlement on a long-term deal, there’s a stable likelihood that Inexperienced Bay locations the franchise tag on Adams, similar to the Bears did with Robinson. In order that takes the next-best possibility off the board. Chris Godwin might be able to take the following step as a No. 1 wideout, however all studies this offseason point out that the Buccaneers wish to preserve Godwin in Tampa Bay, and work out a contract extension over the following offseason, similar to they did with Barrett this yr.

After that, the listing thins out significantly. Will Fuller and JuJu Smith-Schuster are each massive names, however every participant carries his personal query marks about whether or not he can really carry the load as a No. 1 extensive receiver. T.Y. Hilton and A.J. Inexperienced would’ve been nice No. 1 choices 5 years in the past, however every of these guys is previous his prime now. Robby Anderson, D.J. Chark, Jamison Crowder, Mike Williams and Tyrell Williams are all nice complementary items, however none of these guys can totally exchange what Robinson brings to the sphere.

However the No. 1 cause the Bears ought to wish to preserve Robinson in Chicago goes past the manufacturing he provides to the offense. Because the crew works to develop Justin Discipline right into a famous person, who can be higher to assist convey him alongside than Robinson? The reliability Robinson affords on the surface gives Fields a security valve on the sphere. He’s an extremely exact route runner, who has a knack for coming down with contested catches. Off the sphere, Robinson is the proper professional to groom Fields, too. He’s a consummate professional with an unbelievable work ethic, by all accounts. He’s additionally proven his willingness to mentor younger gamers, as he’s been spotted working with Darnell Mooney this offseason. Briefly, Robinson is precisely the kind of extensive receiver each younger quarterback would dream of taking part in alongside. If the Bears wish to get essentially the most out of Fields as he develops, they’ll be hard-pressed to search out somebody who can do it higher than Robinson.

Irrespective of the way you slice it, the Bears would’ve been greatest served to succeed in an settlement with Robinson sooner moderately than later. However now they’ll must hope they’ll attain an settlement later, moderately than in no way.

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