As the Detroit Lions look to the free agent market for a wide receiver, Allen Robinson should be high on their list of targets.
As the Detroit Lions head into the offseason, and next week’s Senior Bowl as the start for the coaching staff, wide receiver stands as a need to address. Free agency comes before the draft, so a veteran addition to pair with Amon-Ra St. Brown is surely on the radar if there’s a fit.
What about Allen Robinson?
Over the 2019 and 2020 seasons with the Chicago Bears, Robinsin averaged 100 catches, 1,198 yards and 6.5 touchdowns per campaign. But the Bears would not give him a multi-year deal, and he played 2021 on the franchise tag.
It did not go well. Robinson missed games with a hamstring issue and COVID-19, as he finished with 38 catches for 410 yards and one touchdown over 12 games. Bad timing for a bad season, whatever the circumstances, to say the least.
Allen Robinson and the Lions look like free agency match
Robinson, for whatever it’s worth, is a Detroit native. But that aside, it’s easy to see him as a fit for the Lions as he looks to bounce back to being a legit No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox has the Lions on his list of landing spots, presented in unranked order, for Robinson. Here’s what he wrote:
"The Lions could use a potent perimeter receiver opposite St. Brown. While the rookie was dangerous this season, the Lions ranked only 24th in net yards per pass attempt. No other wideout topped 600 receiving yards for Detroit.The question here is whether Robinson would be willing to enter the second year of a rebuild with a former division rival. If so, the Lions would be a prime destination."
Beyond coming back home to continue his career, don’t dismiss a revenge angle for Robinson. He was clearly not thrilled with the Bears playing hardball on a long-term deal and franchise tagging him, before ultimately relenting and signing the tag. The idea of playing Chicago twice a year, even though a new general manager is now in place, may provide motivation to consider signing with the Lions.
Robinson’s projected market value (via Spotrac) is still pretty good coming off a horrible season. Pro Football Focus has him ranked 10th among impending free agents, with a projected contract in the same per year range as Spotrac’s projection ($16 million).
PFF’s projected contract for Robinson is three years, which would take him through his age-31 season. At that deal length, or even extending to five years depending on how guaranteed money is structured, the Lions should be significant players for Robinson on the free agent market.