Bears Trading Allen Robinson To Patriots Or 49ers?
Allen Robinson may or may not have requested a trade from the Chicago Bears this week.
On Tuesday morning, multiple reports from ESPN and The Chicago Tribune suggested that Robinson and his representation made a request to be moved from Chicago due to frustration over contract negotiations.
However, later the same day, ESPN’s Adam Schefter relayed a message from Robinson’s agent Brandon Parker suggesting that his client was not in fact demanding a trade.
Either way, Robinson’s relationship with the Bears does not appear to be in the best place.
The 27-year-old is set to make $13 million this year. He is currently in the middle of a three-year, $42 million contract – with approximately $25 million guaranteed – that he agreed to in 2018.
Despite being in the midst of an existing deal, Robinson feels as though his performance warrants a raise.
Last year, he led all Chicago receivers with 98 receptions for 1,147 yards and seven touchdowns.
During his Week 1 match-up against the Detroit Lions this season, he recorded 74 yards on five catches.
By all accounts, Bears brass understands what they have in their wide receiver.
“When we work on these deals, we know how important A-Rob is to us not just as a player but as a teammate,” Bears general manager Ryan Pace told the media last week.
If the Bears and Robinson cannot work out a reasonable compromise, two potential partners stand out above all others for a potential trade.
Yikes. https://t.co/xLgPi14OBB
— Game 7 (@game7__) September 15, 2020
The first: Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots.
In their Week 1 victory over the Miami Dolphins, the Patriots utilized a very run-heavy approach. It is questionable how sustainable that sort of offense will be going forward.
Quarterback Cam Newton needs to be comfortable with his wide receivers, and thus far the only ones that have gotten any looks this season are Julian Edelman and N’Keal Harry. The latter caught five passes for 39 yards, while the former nabbed five catches for 57 yards. Of the two, Edelman was the only one who consistently got any sort of separation from the defense.
Not how the Cleveland Browns were hoping to start the season. https://t.co/EUkLwRwn8n
— Game 7 (@game7__) September 15, 2020
New England needs more talented wide receivers – and Robinson would be a perfect fit. His base salary is $10 million, so he is affordable for the Patriots, and by trading him Chicago would clear $13 million off its books. A win-win.
The 49ers would also make a lot of sense for Robinson. San Francisco was already without its two best wide receivers for their Week 1 showdown against the Arizona Cardinals, and then tight end George Kittle got hurt. That left quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with minimal options late in the game.
The NBA is going all in. https://t.co/BQ335XNu0s
— Game 7 (@game7__) September 15, 2020
Unsurprisingly, the Niners choked away the first game of the season late due to an ineffective offensive attack.
Robinson, a proven veteran who has played with iffy quarterbacks his whole career, could remedy that.
Obviously Robinson and the Bears may work something out. The season is still young and the front office seems to like him. But the fact that a deal hasn’t gotten sorted yet is telling, particularly given how professional Robinson has been throughout the offseason.
If Chicago doesn’t realize what it has in Robinson and lets him go, don’t be surprised to see New England or San Francisco swoop in and take advantage.
Related: Are Browns Trading Odell Beckham Jr?
Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.