Here’s how much money the Bears appear to have offered WR Allen Robinson for contract extension

Just as the Chicago Bears have gotten their franchise quarterback, it appears quite likely that they’ll lose their star wide receiver next offseason.

After failing to agree to terms on a long-term contract extension, Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson will play out the 2021 season on the franchise tag, which guarantees him around $18 million this year.

There’s no one more deserving of a contract extension than Robinson, who has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons despite inconsistent quarterback play. So it doesn’t make sense that the Bears wouldn’t want to bring back their best offensive player to help rookie Justin Fields.

The issue was money, which is what caused the contract dispute last September, which went public with Robinson’s frustrations on social media. But what kind of money was Robinson aiming for, and what did the Bears actually offer?

According to 670 the Score’s Chris Emma, Robinson is asking in the range of $20 million per year, which is about what Dallas’ Amari Cooper and Los Angeles’ Keenan Allen make. But the Bears only offered at most around $16 million annually.

When comparing Robinson’s value to the likes of Cooper and Allen, there’s an argument to be made that he’s more production than both, so it would make sense that Robinson would be seeking in that range.

But if the Bears were only willing to pay Robinson $16 million per year, when Robinson has proven to be one of the league’s best wideouts when playing with poor quarterbacks, it makes sense that Robinson would feel disrespected. Especially as Pace has signed deserving players to substantial contracts in the past.

Unless the Bears come to their senses and realize what’s been true all along — that Robinson is worth around $20 million per year — then Robinson will hit free agency in 2022, where there are surely teams that feel he’s worth that amount.