Bears WR Allen Robinson explains why he signed franchise tag
Chicago Bears one-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Allen Robinson briefly teased not signing the franchise tag used by Chicago to retain his rights last month, but the 27-year-old ultimately had a change of heart.
Robinson spoke with media members on Tuesday and, per Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times, explained that he signed because it was "what was best at the time."
Robinson added he could potentially put pen to paper on a long-term agreement with the Bears before the 2021 season begins.
"I'm in a good place at this point in time," he said.
On a different note, Robinson said he has not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine and hasn't decided if he will get one.
The NFL is not mandating that players get vaccinated to participate in offseason activities.
According to Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk, Robinson will earn $17.9 million if he plays on the franchise tag in 2021. He finished last season with 102 receptions for 1,250 yards and six touchdowns.
"Robinson hasn’t had an overall PFF grade lower than 69.0 in his career or lower than 75.0 since the 2018 season, his first in Chicago," Pro Football Focus notes. "He consistently showcases excellent hands and contested-catch skills, dropping no more than three passes in a season since his time in Jacksonville. Robinson graded out at 88.4 during the 2020 regular season — fifth-best in the league — and he is still only 27 years old. His ceiling with a high-end quarterback could be special."
Currently, former Cincinnati Bengals starting quarterback Andy Dalton is Chicago's starting QB. That could, however, change by Thursday night with the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft.
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