CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 05: Allen Robinson II #12 of the Chicago Bears warms up before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field on December 05, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears seem likely to lose wide receiver Allen Robinson next offseason after failing to reach a long-term deal by the deadline.
Robinson and Ryan Pace never really came close to agreeing to a contract extension, which doesn’t bring with it much confidence that the pair will reach a different conclusion come the 2022 offseason. Barring anything unforeseen, this will be Robinson’s last season as a Bear.
For the player, it offers an opportunity to perhaps play with a good quarterback for the first time in awhile. Having Justin Fields deliver him the ball in space will only increase Robinson’s value, potentially out of the Bears price range anyway.
Robinson hauled in 102 catches — a career-high — paired with 1,250 receiving yards in 2020 with Nick Foles and Mitchell Trubisky throwing him the ball. Lord knows what he can do with Fields and/or Andy Dalton delivering the pigskin.
Chicago Bears rumors: 3 replacements for Allen Robinson in 2022
Chicago Bears could sign JuJu Smith-Schuster
The Bears are scheduled to have over $37 million in cap space entering the 2022 offseason. Obviously, the number will dwindle when factoring in contract extensions and draft pick contracts.
Either way, Smith-Schuster should be an affordable option for a team that might want to invest money elsewhere to help create a consistent winner. JuJu is unlikely to put up huge numbers in Pittsburgh — he hasn’t done so since Antonio Brown was opposite him. Ben Roethlisberger can barely throw the ball past the line of scrimmage, but trust me when I tell you Smith-Schuster is a reliable target that fans will love.
He won’t beat anyone in a race, that much is certain. But he’s capable of being a true No. 1, possession receiver that any quarterback, especially a young passer like Fields, can learn to rely on.