The Chicago Bears answered a question many were asking at wide receiver with franchise tagging Allen Robinson. At the end of the day, it was what they had to do. There is still a chance that they will be trading him despite the tag, but the most likely scenario is that the Bears will be heading into the 2021 season with Robinson at wide receiver.
Heading into the offseason wide receiver was a big need for the Chicago Bears, in part because the team had so many questions surrounding Robinson. Still, even with the Robinson question being answered, there is still a need for a wide receiver on this roster.
When looking down the depth chart, Robinson is now joined by Darnell Mooney, who has started to establish himself as a legitimate passing game threat. Mooney was a great find, but we are talking about a player who did not hit 100 yards in a game this season. He should emerge, but the duo needs more.
Beyond them, there are too many question marks. Anthony Miller has fallen far out of the team’s good graces. He slowly lost his role as a number two target to Mooney and by the end of the season, Javon Wims was taking away his number three job. Then, in the playoffs, he lost his cool and did what ownership deemed more detrimental than Wims.
Anthony Miller is a number four wide receiver who could get cut in camp if the Chicago Bears can do enough to the room this offseason. Javon Wims beat him out, but this is another player who should be on the roster bubble, rather than locked into a number three role.
To be fair, he provides on special teams and as a blocker, but that is a WR5 duty. Still, those are duties that Riley Ridley cannot even handle. So many people want him to get a shot, but through two years, if he has not earned a shot over Wims and Miller through all of their issues, I think you can get the picture of what he is.
Ridley does not even provide the special team’s value to remain active. So, even with Allen Robinson, the Chicago Bears have two wideouts they can trust, and two wideouts on the WR5 fringe range. They also have Riley Ridley who some want to think can take a step still.
The fact is that the Bears need to look to replace Anthony Miller now by adding a slot but also add more to potentially be a WR4-5 in 2021. A room with Allen Robinson, Darnell Mooney, a FA, a rookie, and Javon Wims shows more promise than hoping someone in house can take a step forward.
The Bears needed to franchise tag Robinson, and they need to add more to the receiver room.