For Chicago Bears, timing is everything for Allen Robinson extension

The Chicago Bears will need to extend Allen Robinson soon as his price tag will only go up

The Chicago Bears have been working on an extension for Allen Robinson, who has noted he wants to stay in Chicago but also enters 2020 as a free agent after the season. There is plenty of time between now and training camp, let alone the start of the season and next year’s free agency.

Still, if the Chicago Bears are savvy, they would be proactive in getting ahead of a potential wave of contracts that will be coming in soon.

When you look at recent contracts signed, both Tyreek Hill and Amari Cooper signed contracts in the past year. Robinson is a few months older than Hill, and Cooper is a full year younger. Hill also has his off of the field questions that are always going to come up in these types of situations.

Still, with that in mind, Hill signed a three-year, $54 million extension worth $18 million per year. Cooper is young and has a clean background, which helped him sign a 5-year, $100 million deal worth $20 million per year.

Some analysts want to put Robinson on a tier below those, names but when you look at his age, and statistical breakdown, it is hard to say that, especially when you factor in quarterback play. Below you can see the trios per game averages. Robinson is in a tier with these names.

Rece Rece Rece Rk Player From To Rec Yds TD 1 Amari Cooper 2015 2019 4.6 66.2 0.4 2 Tyreek Hill 2016 2019 4.8 69.7 0.5 3 Allen Robinson 2014 2019 4.9 66.0 0.5

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table

So, Robinson may not be quite on Cooper’s level being a year older, but the $18-20 million range may be realistic.

The sense of urgency comes down to the other wide receivers due for a contract. The game of contracts is that the player due a contract has to get a little bit more than X player. Each new player to get a deal is the new name to set the market. At this very moment, there are multiple contracts that could impact where the Robinson negotiations head.

When you look at Kenny Golladay and Cooper Kupp, they are both about to enter the fourth year of their careers. However, Golladay is just a few months younger than Robinson, and Kupp is older than Allen Robinson. Experience is out the window, now these veteran NFL players are the same age.

Here, you can see how the three stack up against each other on a per-game production basis.

Rece Rece Rece Rk Player From To Rec Yds TD 1 Kenny Golladay 2017 2019 3.9 65.0 0.5 2 Cooper Kupp 2017 2019 5.0 66.6 0.5 3 Allen Robinson 2014 2019 4.9 66.0 0.5

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table

There is an argument to be made that if the Rams or Lions extend Kupp or Golladay, that would set a floor to what Robinson would demand. If the Bears sign Robinson before Kupp and Golladay, it would be those two negotiating to top Robinson.

Beyond that, there were also two disgruntled wide receivers who saw themselves traded this offseason because they were looking for a new contract. Stefon Diggs is a couple of months younger than Robinson, and DeAndre Hopkins is two years older than both. Still, Hopkins has a long resume of success and is likely due to his final big contract. He is going to attempt to top Cooper, despite the age difference. Take a look at the production comparisons below.

Rece Rece Rece Rk Player From To Rec Yds TD 1 Amari Cooper 2015 2019 4.6 66.2 0.4 2 Stefon Diggs 2015 2019 5.2 66.0 0.4 3 Kenny Golladay 2017 2019 3.9 65.0 0.5 4 DeAndre Hopkins 2013 2019 5.7 78.2 0.5 5 Cooper Kupp 2017 2019 5.0 66.6 0.5 6 Allen Robinson 2014 2019 4.9 66.0 0.5

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table

If Diggs and Hopkins get new contracts, those are two names who just drove the price up for Robinson. If Kupp signs first, and Golladay tops that, Diggs will top and Hopkins will top Robinson. Now, Robinson will likely request money between Diggs and Hopkins.

If the Bears can get something done now, Kupp and Golladay may beat the Robinson contract, and Diggs and Hopkins will top both.

Each receiver likely knows this and combining the idea that teams do not know the salary implications from COVID-19, and we have a bit of a stalemate in the receiver market.

One of these five is likely going to have to blink first and find themselves getting topped by others in the very near future. The Bears should be trying to be the first team to get in and get a deal done with Allen Robinson.