(Audacy) If this is the final year of Bears receiver Allen Robinson's tenure in Chicago — and the prevailing sentiment is that it will be — it's not going too well.
Robinson has just 250 receiving yards in the Bears' first seven contests (35.7 yards per game) and is riding a five-game touchdown drought. In addressing his recent struggles, Robinson has readily admitted to a lack of on-field chemistry with rookie Justin Fields, adding the two rarely shared a huddle in training camp. And while there's truth to that, pointing a finger at the Bears coaching staff doesn't accomplish much now and there's clearly a disconnect between Fields and Robinson that goes beyond a lack of training camp reps.
As dreadful as they've been offensively, the 3-4 Bears still have more than half their season to go and aren't out of the playoff race -- though that will be an uphill climb, as Chicago's schedule includes daunting opponents in Baltimore, undefeated Arizona and Green Bay down the line. With the Bears staring down the barrel of a lost season — and the looming threat of an offseason overhaul amid rumblings that Matt Nagy is coaching for his job — should the Bears hang on to Robinson or trade him before the deadline next Tuesday? It's a topic of debate many are having externally, even if it seems unlikely that the Bears will move him as they still look to win.
The Bears wouldn't exactly be selling high on Robinson, whose 16 yards Sunday were his fewest since a 15-yard dud against the Rams in 2019. But as a former Pro Bowler and three-time 1,000-yard receiver, Robinson would still command a strong market if the Bears made him available. Flipping the 28-year-old Robinson for a future asset, preferably a mid- to early round pick in the NFL Draft next year, makes good business sense considering he's on a path to leaving as a free agent anyway next spring.
Of course, that would be viewed by many as an admission of defeat, throwing in the towel on a season that isn't half over. Not that Fields is making particularly good use of Robinson now, but throwing Fields to the wolves by taking away his best receiver would further cripple an offense that already ranks dead last in the NFL in yards per game. Beyond that, the best way to fully evaluate Fields is by giving him a full complement of weapons, not taking away one of the best ones.
The Bears are no doubt walking a tightrope, risking losing Robinson for nothing in free agency. But does moving Robinson really make sense for a coach desperate to keep his job and a raw, unproven quarterback who needs as much help as he can get? With those scenarios in mind, general manager Ryan Pace will have a lot to think about before the 3 p.m. CT deadline next Tuesday.
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