Insider Close To Allen Robinson Gives Different Reason He Wasn't Traded

The entire saga between the Chicago Bears and Allen Robinson has been an endless frustration. Despite the wide receiver putting up the best numbers seen in this town for a long time in 2019 and 2020, the two sides haven't been able to reach terms on a contract extension. Now Robinson is in the midst of the worst season he's ever had, still not over 300 yards in seven games. His connection with rookie QB Justin Fields remains off-kilter. Everything points to this relationship approaching a conclusion. Why then didn't the Bears choose to give him an exit via the NFL trade deadline? It made sense. The team is 3-5 and it's not like the offense is thriving with him right now. Why not deal him to a contender for some draft capital and get a head start on 2022? Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times stated the belief is Chicago wasn't getting good enough offers. They feel letting Robinson walk will yield higher value via a compensatory draft choice in 2023.

One person doesn't seem to agree.

Jordan Schultz is an insider and analyst who has worked for ESPN and Yahoo among other places. He also hosts a number of podcasts including The Playoff Pod. His co-host? Allen Robinson. That makes his statement about the situation in Chicago interesting. Schultz claims that the decision not to trade the receiver had nothing to do with lacking compensation. It was more a move by GM Ryan Pace to "sabotage" Robinson. This is in order to lowball him again next offseason with the franchise tag again in play. [video width="720" height="720" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Why-didnt-Pro-Bowl-receiver-Allen-Robinson-get-traded-Whats-next-for-Deshaun-and-Tua-Check.mp4"][/video] Based on what he is saying, the Bears are calculating that this down year by Robinson might impact his price tag going into 2022. That might enable them to retain him at a price deemed more team-friendly. As to the idea of using the franchise tag again? This actually isn't the first time such an idea was mentioned. Fellow insider Adam Caplan said back in July that the team might be open to tagging him a second time. A move that would cost around $21.57 million.

Allen Robinson situation hinges on a few key factors

The first and most obvious is his relationship with Fields. Right now it isn't producing the results he has hoped for. Since the rookie became the starter in Week 3, they've connected just 18 times for 212 yards and no touchdowns. Cole Kmet has 16 catches in that same time span. Darnell Mooney has 22. This is not a situation Robinson is used to being in and he's understandably frustrated. The good news is there are still nine games left to play. That is plenty of time for the two to get on the same page. The other factor is Pace himself? Right now he is operating as if he will still be the GM after this season. Yet signs continue to indicate this is hardly set in stone. Not with the team trending in the wrong direction. If he is out, there is a chance his replacement won't be keen on paying Allen Robinson $21 million. Not with salary cap issues the Bears face already and other roster holes that need plugging.

Why would Pace do this?

A simple enough answer. Right now the Bears would only have one receiver left under contract going into next offseason. That is Mooney. Given their limited cap space and no 1st round pick? Tagging Robinson might seem like a necessity from their perspective.