Earlier this week, the Chicago Bears made its first big offseason move when it placed the franchise’s brand on wide receiver Allen Robinson. The Pro-Bowl’s former wide receiver has been the main question mark since last year’s training camp, when everyone and his brothers wondered if and when he would get an extension.
Robinson, who totaled 102 catches, 1,250 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season, has yet to sign a long-term contract, but has secured approximately $ 18 million this season under the Bears brand. But although the team knows they have their star receiver in tow for at least another year, there is still a big question of who will throw the ball at him.
With trade rumors and reports about Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russel Wilson spinning faster than the winds at Soldier Field, one must wonder if negotiating with Robinson could really be the key for the Bears to acquire their main quarterback target.
For the past few weeks, Wilson has been the talk of the town. Defender Seahawks created a stir in the last month or so when he expressed frustration with the Seahawks organization for not being protected enough in his pocket. Things got even worse when a report came out saying that Wilson is willing to waive his no-trade clause to play for four other teams, including Bears, if he formally requests to be traded.
Since then, the Bears have made trading for Wilson a high priority. The problem is that Seattle is still not interested in negotiating its franchise quarterback and, if they do, it believes that the Bears don’t have enough assets to lure them in with a deal. This is where Robinson comes into play.
While it is difficult to determine the value of a player in the trading market, it is possible that Robinson is worth a choice in the first round, presumably at the end of the round. Teams like New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars, which hold the 23rd and 25th overall choice, respectively, are two possible options, given their needs in the position. Both teams have plenty of room for the ceiling and have several choices in the first round in this year’s draft.
In addition, Robinson expressed vague interest in playing for both teams as well. The Baltimore Ravens, who have the 27th overall choice, can also be players, but it has been reported that they are not interested in Robinson at the moment.
If the Bears find a deal for Robinson that gives them one of those selections, they will have two choices in the first round of this year, albeit in the 1920s, as the choice for the Bears draft itself is 20th overall. Still, it is another important bargaining chip and could push the Bears’ offer for Seattle to its limit.
It is no secret that General Manager Ryan Pace is desperate for a quarterback and there is news that the Bears are pushing to make Seattle an offer he can’t refuse. The problem is that their supply is probably not very strong at the moment. Seattle would probably like to get another solid defender in the business, which the Bears cannot offer, and NFL teams can only negotiate draft choices for up to three years in the future.
They can, however, pack as many first-round choices as they like, as long as they are only three years away, according to Pro Football Focus’s Brad Spielberger. With Pace looking to get the Seahawks out of the water with an attractive offer, he could consider negotiating with Robinson to get an additional choice in the first round to sweeten the deal.
Are the first four, plus additional assets, too many to give up on Wilson? For some, it is, but Pace and the Bears don’t seem to mind paying dearly for a player of Wilson’s caliber when their jobs are at stake.
Losing Robinson in the process would harm crime, but the class of free agent recipients is quite profound. Hiring someone like Marvin Jones Jr., Corey Davis, Will Fuller V or even Kenny Golladay and joining them with Darnell Mooney and Anthony Miller would not be the worst thing that would happen. There is also no guarantee that Robinson will be with the Bears after the 2021 season, as the two sides have not yet reached an agreement on an extension.
If the Bears are serious when trying to negotiate with Russell Wilson, they will need all possible resources to entice Seattle to negotiate with him. Robinson may be the key to putting the offer on the edge. And if negotiation still fails, the Bears have that extra choice to use as an asset to move up the draft, to use as a negotiation chip for another veteran passer who might be available later in the off-season, like Houston Texans and quarterback Deshaun Watson or Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. The Bears could also stand still if nothing materializes and call another rookie for impact.
Regardless, the Bears seem ready to do whatever it takes to get Wilson. This should possibly mean separating Robinson’s path for this to happen.