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Bears Agree To Terms With Allen Robinson; Land Their New WR1
The Chicago Bears are expected to sign former Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson when free agency opens Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
The deal is for three years and is worth $42 million, with roughly $25 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
As NFL.com notes, Robinson's 2017 season came to an abrupt end after he suffered a torn ACL in Week 1. Jacksonville allowed Robinson to hit free agency, opting not to tag the 61st overall pick of the 2014 draft.
The 24-year-old Robinson has averaged 14.1 yards per catch on 202 receptions and has 22 touchdown catches in three seasons, and he had a monster year in 2015 (80 catches for 1,400 yards and a franchise single-season record 14 touchdown catches). His yardage and touchdown numbers dropped off in 2016 -- 73 catches for 883 yards and six TDs -- but he had a fantastic training camp and appeared poised for a big season before his injury.
Chicago Tribune staffer Brad Biggs reported on Monday night the Bears were more interested in Sammy Watkins based on the belief that with restricted free agent Cameron Meredith coming off a serious knee injury and former first-round draft pick Kevin White having been derailed by injuries for three consecutive seasons, the Bears may have felt safer investing in Watkins rather than Robinson.
That wasn't the case (Watkins subsequently reached an agreement with the Chiefs) and Robinson will immediately move in as Mitchell Trubisky's top weapon on the outside and now we'll all be watching to see how the newcomer's rehab is progressing.
Remember, he suffered his injury on the third offensive snap of the season, underwent surgery a couple of weeks later and then began rehab. There's reason to believe he'll at least be able to get in some light work during OTAs.
Meanwhile, the Bears tendered qualifying offers to Meredith and fellow restricted free agent Josh Bellamy. Both were tendered at the original-round level, $1.907 million, giving the Bears the right of first refusal if they sign offer sheets elsewhere. Because neither was drafted, the Bears would not receive compensation if they decline to match an offer sheet.
Meredith, 25, is coming off a torn ACL and partially torn MCL in his left knee suffered last preseason. He emerged in 2016 as one of the organization’s best undrafted discoveries in a long time when he had 66 receptions for 888 yards and four touchdowns in just his second season.
Bellamy, 28, who first appeared in an NFL game in 2012, has traveled a long road to free agency. He caught 24 passes for 376 yards and one touchdown last season and remains one of the better special teams players on the roster. His playing time on special teams dipped last season as he was needed on offense more as injuries depleted the depth chart.
Beyond that, injuries make White a mystery.
As the Sports Xchange noted, the former first round pick hasn't shown ability to shake coverage, go deep or vertical, but after playing only five games in three years it's possible he will develop. Last season's broken scapula won't hinder him going forward, but inexperience will.
So the addition of a front-line player like Robinson was certainly necessary.
The deal is for three years and is worth $42 million, with roughly $25 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
As NFL.com notes, Robinson's 2017 season came to an abrupt end after he suffered a torn ACL in Week 1. Jacksonville allowed Robinson to hit free agency, opting not to tag the 61st overall pick of the 2014 draft.
The 24-year-old Robinson has averaged 14.1 yards per catch on 202 receptions and has 22 touchdown catches in three seasons, and he had a monster year in 2015 (80 catches for 1,400 yards and a franchise single-season record 14 touchdown catches). His yardage and touchdown numbers dropped off in 2016 -- 73 catches for 883 yards and six TDs -- but he had a fantastic training camp and appeared poised for a big season before his injury.
Chicago Tribune staffer Brad Biggs reported on Monday night the Bears were more interested in Sammy Watkins based on the belief that with restricted free agent Cameron Meredith coming off a serious knee injury and former first-round draft pick Kevin White having been derailed by injuries for three consecutive seasons, the Bears may have felt safer investing in Watkins rather than Robinson.
That wasn't the case (Watkins subsequently reached an agreement with the Chiefs) and Robinson will immediately move in as Mitchell Trubisky's top weapon on the outside and now we'll all be watching to see how the newcomer's rehab is progressing.
Remember, he suffered his injury on the third offensive snap of the season, underwent surgery a couple of weeks later and then began rehab. There's reason to believe he'll at least be able to get in some light work during OTAs.
Meanwhile, the Bears tendered qualifying offers to Meredith and fellow restricted free agent Josh Bellamy. Both were tendered at the original-round level, $1.907 million, giving the Bears the right of first refusal if they sign offer sheets elsewhere. Because neither was drafted, the Bears would not receive compensation if they decline to match an offer sheet.
Meredith, 25, is coming off a torn ACL and partially torn MCL in his left knee suffered last preseason. He emerged in 2016 as one of the organization’s best undrafted discoveries in a long time when he had 66 receptions for 888 yards and four touchdowns in just his second season.
Bellamy, 28, who first appeared in an NFL game in 2012, has traveled a long road to free agency. He caught 24 passes for 376 yards and one touchdown last season and remains one of the better special teams players on the roster. His playing time on special teams dipped last season as he was needed on offense more as injuries depleted the depth chart.
Beyond that, injuries make White a mystery.
As the Sports Xchange noted, the former first round pick hasn't shown ability to shake coverage, go deep or vertical, but after playing only five games in three years it's possible he will develop. Last season's broken scapula won't hinder him going forward, but inexperience will.
So the addition of a front-line player like Robinson was certainly necessary.