Wide receiver Allen Robinson looks like a lame duck with the Chicago Bears, so which NFL teams should try to capitalize on that with a blockbuster trade?
Fans of the Chicago Bears are certainly hoping that one of the most quarterback-hapless franchises in the NFL over recent memory can finally remedy that after trading up to draft Justin Fields this offseason. Unfortunately, if Fields doesn’t take the field as the starter early and often in the 2021 season, he might not get to line up with the team’s biggest pass-catching weapon, Allen Robinson.
Chicago signed Robinson to the franchise tag this offseason and tried to work out a long-term extension with the wide receiver. The two sides were unable to reach an agreement, however, and now it appears that the Bears are going to watch the wideout walk come next offseason. But might it be smart of the organization to try and get something in return?
Put simply, if the Bears were to trade Allen Robinson at some point during this season, they might not get unreal value but they could get somethingin return rather than losing him in free agentcy and getting nothing but a compensatory pick in 2023 to show for it.
So, whether teams are looking for a short-term fix or a wide receiver they might try to keep around long term, these five NFL teams should be calling the Bears about a Robinson trade.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have to be ecstatic about landing reigning Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith. After watching a receiving corps that was absolutely depleted and largely devoid of talent last season, Philadelphia made a bold statement as they traded up a couple of picks in order to land the Alabama product and, hopefully, give their offense a jolt.
Smith alone, however, does not fix the Eagles wide receiver corps. Jalen Reagor showed next to nothing as a rookie (even as a first-round pick), Travis Fulgham needs to put together more than just a few games and the rest of the group is, in essence, unproven.
Now, it’s worth noting that we don’t totally know if Jalen Hurts is the long-term answer at quarterback. But if he comes out and continues to show a lot of promise, the Eagles owe it to him to try and make his life easier, namely by trying to trade for Allen Robinson.
Pairing a bigger-bodied target like Robinson with the uber-versatile Smith would be a dream for a young quarterback to work with and would give the incoming wideout arguably the best quarterback he’s played with in his career. I don’t expect the Eagles to contend in 2021 but, if they are better than expected, they could look to add Robinson and then begin working on re-signing him as a long-term option.