Allen Robinson to the Ravens? A-Rob likes the idea

All signs point to Allen Robinson leaving Chicago in free agency, and he’s even liking tweets suggesting he’s gone.

The Bears are set to begin an offseason that’s familiar to fans of this team. The quest to find a quarterback continues, and it feels very much like the answer won’t be coming anytime soon.

Unless, of course, GM Ryan Pace figures out a way to trade for Deshaun Watson.

And while all of the team’s attention will likely be spent on quarterback, a critically important decision looms large over Halas Hall: Re-sign Allen Robinson or let him walk.

At this point, it seems like the Bears’ only option is to franchise A-Rob, who enjoyed his best season in Chicago in 2020. It was the first year in his career that he eclipsed 100 catches (102), the most yards he’s gained since 2015 (1,250), and impressive six touchdown catches, considering who was throwing to him.

The Bears have exhausted the one advantage they had in re-signing Robinson: time. They no longer have that on their side. Robinson finished the year healthy, he produced, and now he’s in control. Time is on his side, all the bargaining power has shifted to him.

And he knows it.

I offered a suggestion on Twitter during the AFC divisional playoff round that drew an interesting response from A-Rob:

There were a lot of likes to this tweet, but if you dig deep you’ll see that one of them came from Robinson.

He knows what’s up. He knows the Ravens are a dominant wide receiver away from completing their offense, and that he’s on a very short list of potential free agents who can make that happen for them.

And that means a massive payday that the Bears probably can’t match.

I think it’s time to stop asking whether Chicago will bring Robinson back. Instead, it’s time to wonder whether he wants to come back. And even if he does, whether the Bears can afford him at this point.

Pace played chicken with Robinson and he lost. Maybe the Bears pony up and pay the man. But at this point, and with the questions that loom at quarterback, why would he even consider a return?

Robinson was one of the few (if not the only) reasons to watch the Bears’ offense over the last few seasons. It’ll be a sad day in Chicago if he leaves town. Unfortunately, the Bears won’t have anyone to blame but themselves.