It’s been an eventful week regarding Bears receiver Allen Robinson’s frustrations over contract negotiations with the team.
After Robinson scrubbed his social media accounts of all references to the Bears, things escalated to the point where teammates were calling for the team to sign Robinson to a well-deserved extension and trade rumors were swirling.
But the main question that everyone has been wondering is: What’s gone wrong? Especially considering general manager Ryan Pace has a track record of rewarding players that have earned contract extensions.
Robinson has felt disrespected by the Bears’ contract offers, which have been kept under wraps. But now, it sounds like we have a better understanding of how much the Bears feel Robinson’s services are worth compared to what Robinson is seeking.
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the Bears have been using Cooper Kupp’s extension with the Los Angeles Rams as a comparison for what they feel they should pay Robinson, which is in the $15-16 million per-year range. But Robinson believes he should be paid in the Tyreek Hill and Odell Beckham Jr. range, which is around $18 million per year.
It certainly doesn’t help that Chargers receiver Keenan Allen just signed a four-year extension worth reportedly $20 million per year. Robinson has been just as good if not better than Allen in terms of production (their numbers are quite similar) and it’s made even more impressive given that Robinson did it in one of the worst offenses with questionable quarterback play.
So what happens now?
Graziano says Robinson’s desire is to sign an extension with the Bears. But if they don’t want to pay him what he believes he’s worth — which sounds like $18 million per year — he’s brought up the idea of being traded to another team that will pay him.
One thing is certain, the longer Pace drags his feet with this contract extension, Robinson’s price tag could certainly rise even higher, given Detroit’s Kenny Golladay and Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin are looking for big paydays this season.