Earlier this week, the Chicago Bears made their first major move of the offseason when they placed the franchise tag on wide receiver Allen Robinson. The former Pro-Bowl wide receiver has been the primary question mark since training camp last year when everyone and their brother wondered if and when he would receive an extension.
Robinson, who totaled 102 catches, 1,250 receiving yards, and six touchdowns last season, has yet to sign a long-term deal, but is guaranteed approximately $18 million this season under the tag with the Bears. But while the team knows they have their star receiver in tow for at least one more year, there is still the big question of who will be throwing him the ball.
With trade rumors and reports about Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson swirling faster than the winds at Soldier Field, one has to wonder if trading Robinson might actually be the key to the Bears acquiring their top quarterback target.
For the last few weeks, Wilson has been the talk of the town. The Seahawks quarterback created a stir over the last month or so when he expressed frustration with the Seahawks organization over not being protected enough in the pocket. Things escalated further when a report surfaced that said Wilson is willing to waive his no-trade clause to play for four other teams, including the Bears, if he formally requests to be dealt.
Since then, the Bears have reportedly made trading for Wilson a high priority. The problem is Seattle still isn’t keen on trading their franchise quarterback yet and, if they do, it’s believed the Bears don’t have enough assets to entice them with a deal. This is where Robinson comes into play.
While it’s difficult to determine a player’s value on the trade market, it’s possible Robinson could be worth a first-round pick, presumably in the backend of the round. Teams such as the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars, holding the 23rd and 25th overall picks, respectively, are two possible options given their need at the position. Both teams have plenty of cap space and hold multiple first-round picks in this year’s draft.
Furthermore, Robinson has expressed vague interest in playing for both teams as well. The Baltimore Ravens, who have the 27th overall pick, could also be players, but it’s reported they aren’t interested in Robinson at the moment.
Should the Bears find a deal for Robinson that lands them one of those selections, they would have two picks in the first round this year, albeit in the 20s as the Bears own draft pick is 20th overall. Still, it’s another key trade chip and could push the Bears’ offer to Seattle over the edge.
It’s no secret general manager Ryan Pace is desperate for a quarterback and there is news saying the Bears are pushing to make Seattle an offer they can’t refuse. The problem is their offer likely isn’t very strong at the moment. Seattle would probably want to land another solid quarterback in the deal, which the Bears cannot offer, and NFL teams can only trade draft picks up to three years into the future.
They can, however, package as many first-round picks as they want, so long as they’re only three years out, according to Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus. With Pace wanting to blow the Seahawks out of the water with a compelling offer, he might consider dealing Robinson to land an additional first-round pick to sweeten the deal.
Is four firsts, plus additional assets, too much to give up for Wilson? To some it is, but Pace and the Bears don’t seem to mind overpaying for a player of Wilson’s caliber when their jobs are on the line.
Losing Robinson in the process would hurt the offense, but the free agent class of receivers is fairly deep. Signing someone such as Marvin Jones Jr., Corey Davis, Will Fuller V, or even Kenny Golladay and pairing them with Darnell Mooney and Anthony Miller wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen. There’s also no guarantee Robinson will be with the Bears after the 2021 season as well, seeing as both sides are still unable to come to an agreement on an extension.
If the Bears are serious in trying to trade for Russell Wilson, they’ll need every possible asset to entice Seattle to deal him. Robinson could be the key to putting the offer over the edge. And if the trade still falls through, the Bears have that extra pick to use as an asset to either move up in the draft, to use as a trade chip for another veteran passer who could become available later in the offseason, such as Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson or Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. The Bears could also stand pat if nothing materializes and draft another impact rookie.
Regardless, the Bears appear ready to do whatever it takes to land Wilson. That should mean possibly parting ways Robinson to make it happen.
