5 wide receivers the Detroit Lions could trade for to replace DJ Chark

2. Allen Robinson

Once easily tabbed as one of the most underrated wide receivers in the NFL (playing for the Jaguars and Bears will do that to you), the last two seasons have been a disaster for Robinson.

After a poor final season in Chicago in 2021, impacted by a hamstring issue and a bout with COVID, he seemed to have a new lease on life when he landed with the Los Angeles Rams in free agency last offseason.

Not so much. As the Rams’ title defense went completely off the rails, Robinson did not do much (33 catches for 339 yards in 10 games) before a foot injury (perhaps mercifully) ended his season in late-November.

Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reported in early March the Rams have given Robinson permission to seek a trade, and they may be willing to cover part of his salary to help facilitate it. With $15.25 million in total fully guaranteed money due to him this year, they will have to eat some money to move on from Robinson in what would be a true salary dump.

Robinson, a Detroit native for what it’s worth, was a solid free agency match for the Lions last year before he surely got a bigger offer from the Rams. The two organizations are clearly comfortable doing business with each other, with Lions general manager Brad Holmes roots in the Rams’ organization. And maybe if Robinson has a preferred landing spot, it’s back home with a team on the rise.

The financials obviously have to be made to work, for the Lions or any other team to acquire Robinson, and the Rams seem motivated to do what it takes there. But somehow he is still not yet 30 years old (on Aug. 24 he will be), and it’s hard to believe all the talent he had for so long has just completely disappeared.