Rams to sign Bears WR Allen Robinson in free agency
Allen Robinson is headed to Los Angeles.
The Chicago Bears’ longtime top wide receiver reached a three-year deal to join the Los Angeles Rams in free agency on Thursday, the team announced Thursday.
We have agreed to terms with WR Allen Robinson on a 3-year deal. ⤵️
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) March 17, 2022
The contract will be worth $46.5 million with $30.7 million fully guaranteed, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Robinson only had 410 receiving yards and a single touchdown last season, which marked his lowest output ever — excluding the 2017 season, when he tore his ACL in the season opener with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played in just 12 games last season for Chicago while dealing with a hamstring injury and a stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
The 28-year-old racked up 1,250 yards and six touchdowns on a career-high 102 receptions in 2020.
Robinson was on a one-year, $17.8 million deal with the Bears last season.
Where does Allen Robinson signing leave Rams with Odell Beckham Jr.?
With an already strong wide receiver corps and only so much salary cap space to go around, adding Robinson may mean the Rams won't bring back Odell Beckham Jr., who is also a free agent after spending the second half of the season in Los Angeles.
Beckham flourished down the stretch with the Rams, posting 288 receiving yards in four postseason games after a disastrous Cleveland tenure. The Pro Bowler's run ended on the worst note, though, with a torn ACL after scoring a touchdown in Super Bowl LVI.
It was unclear when Beckham, who is now a free agent, would be able to return to the field, but that return may no longer be coming with the Rams. Beckham had expressed a strong desire to return to Los Angeles, but it's hard to see the Rams spending much money there when they already have Robinson, Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson and Tutu Atwell.
However, the Rams might not be totally out on Beckham. One thing that could free up both cap space and depth chart space is a Woods trade. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Rams are taking calls on Woods, describing him as a "prime trade candidate."
Whether Beckham or Woods is on the team next season, Robinson figures to provide a different dimension to the Rams offense as a big, chains-moving target, and it remains clear that Matthew Stafford won't be hurting for weapons as Los Angeles defends its title.