How missing out on Allen Robinson impacts the Browns
The Cleveland Browns missed out on wide receiver Allen Robinson, who will reportedly sign with the Chicago Bears. Did John Dorsey and company make a mistake?
The free agency gold rush is already in full swing in the NFL. Although the official free agency period does not open until Wednesday at 4 p.m., unofficial deals have been coming in left and right since the legal tampering period began on Monday.
One of the biggest deals was announced by ESPN’s Adam Schefter early on Tuesday morning. Free agent wide receiver Allen Robinson, who the Cleveland Browns were certainly interested in, is leaving the Jacksonville Jaguars to reportedly sign with the Chicago Bears.
Former Jaguars’ WR Allen Robinson intends to sign with the Chicago Bears barring any last-minute snags when free agency opens Wednesday, source tells ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2018
Later, ESPN’s Josina Anderson broke more details of Robinson’s deal with Chicago.
WR Allen Robinson just told me he intends to sign a “3-year, $42M dollar deal with the #Bears.” #TeamNoSleep https://t.co/G6oNqZDdKq
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 13, 2018
Now that the dominoes have started to fall, it’s a fair question to ask: what exactly are the Browns missing out on here? How much is Robinson worth on the field after missing almost the entire 2017 season with a torn ACL?
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The 6-foot-3 receiver broke out in 2015, racking up 80 receptions for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns. He followed up his impressive sophomore season with a still successful 2016 campaign, finishing with 73 receptions for 883 yards and six touchdowns. So things were looking up for Robinson.
In 2017, we know that disaster struck for after only one catch for 17 yards. So, determining just how much the Browns missed out on depends on one thing. Will Robinson be back to his old self by this fall?
If he is, then the Browns definitely swung and missed hard on this one. Robinson, when healthy, is a top talent that could complete the Browns rebuilt receiving corps along with Josh Gordon and the newly added Jarvis Landry.
If Robinson’s ACL limits him in 2018, the Bears may have saved the Browns by stealing Robinson away from them. Spending too much time and money on a bust of a free agent wide receiver is something the Browns have done all too often in the past.
So, it’s fair to say that the Dawg Pound will just have to wait and see. Even with Robinson and free agent receiver Sammy Watkins, who will reportedly sign with the Kansas City Chiefs off the market, it is likely that the Browns still have a plan B.
Next: Trumaine Johnson only name worth chasing in free agency
Whether the plan is through the draft or another free agent, the Browns still need to add one last wide receiver. Buckle up, Browns fans. This free agency period is about to get a lot more interesting.