(670 The Score) The Bears have until next Tuesday afternoon to decide whether to use the franchise tag on star receiver Allen Robinson.
If they do, it would prevent him from hitting unrestricted free agency. It would also come at a price tag of $18 million for 2021. Another option that looms would be to pull off a tag-and-trade deal with another team that wants Robinson, but that can be exceedingly difficult, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explained on the Mully & Haugh Show on Tuesday morning.
"The problem is this, to do a tag-and-trade," Florio said. "First, the player has to sign the franchise tender. He's got to be on board with this. He's got to be on board with everything. He's got to sign the tender. And then the long-term deal that gets put in place on the tender is based on the franchise tender. It's very easy to calculate a long-term deal based on a franchise tag. You take the money the guy is due to make this year – you fully guarantee it. And then for most of these deals that are done, the second year is guaranteed at a 20% bump because that's what the guy would get going year-to-year under the tag. So you have to find someone who's willing to do that and who's also willing to give the Bears whatever compensation they want. It's not easy to do. The Eagles were thinking about doing it with Nick Foles a few years ago when he was becoming a free agent. They said they were going to do it reportedly. It was leaked to ESPN or someone that they were going to do it, then they realized no one was going to take on that franchise tag and turn it into a long-term contract and give the Eagles anything of value."
Robinson had a career-best 102 catches for 1,250 yards and six touchdowns in 2020. The Bears are facing some salary cap challenges this offseason, which means they need to maneuver to bring Robinson back and address their other needs, like at quarterback. The Bears do plan to release cornerback Buster Skrine, which will open up $5 million in cap space.
Bears general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy are scheduled to speak with reporters later Tuesday afternoon, at which point more clarity on Robinson's future could become available.
