Allen Robinson's latest signing confirms how far Chicago Bears have come

There was a point in time, not too long ago, that Chicago Bears fans were begging for then-general manager Ryan Pace to sign wide receiver Allen Robinson to a contract extension.

Robinson spent a total of four seasons with the Bears between 2018 and 2021 but it was the consecutive seasons he had in 2019 and 2020 where he became the focal point of the Bears' offense.

During the 2019 season, Robinson totaled 1,147 receiving yards on 98 receptions with 7 touchdowns. In the following year, 2020, Robinson eclipsed the 100-reception mark on the season with 102 catches for a total of 1,250 yards.

After that two-year stretch of ascending production for Robinson, Bears fans were clamoring for the wide receiver to get an extension with the team. What's ironic, looking back on the contract talks, is that one of the models that were floated as a possible blueprint for an extension between Robinson and the Bears was the 4-year contract extension Keenan Allen signed with the Los Angeles Chargers prior to the 2020 season, worth just over $80MM.

That same contract that Allen refused to restructured earlier this off-season with the Chargers, leading to him being traded to the Bears.

Robinson, however, has been on a steady decline after the 2020 season. Robinson was an afterthought in the Bears' offense during the 2021 season and has jumped between Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers in the two season since then. Despite being reunited with Mitch Trubisky last season with the Steelers, Robinson had only 34 receptions last season for a total of 280 yards and no touchdowns.

Allen Robinson's downfall continues.

Robinson signed with the New York Giants this offseason but after failing to make the team's 53-man roster, he was forced to sign with the Detroit Lions practice squad.

It's a reminder of how fast life comes at you in the NFL. Robinson has quickly become a non-factor in the NFL while the Bears, entering the 2024 season, have one of the strongest wide receiver groups in the entire NFL with Allen, DJ Moore, and rookie Rome Odunze.

Editor's note: A previous version of this article incorrectly referred to the Pittsburgh Steelers as the Pittsburgh Pirates.