Now that the Bears’ season is over, wide receiver Allen Robinson seems to be on his way out of Chicago — and that could be good news for the Jets or Giants.
The free agent told reporters on Monday — a day after Chicago was eliminated from the playoffs in a 21-9 loss to New Orleans — that the Bears had a year to sign him to an extension and didn’t do it.
“I personally feel like we had an opportunity to be able to get something done over the past 365 days,” said Robinson, who had vented his frustration on social media during the season.
The 27-year-old had another outstanding season, finishing with 102 catches for 1,250 yards and six touchdowns despite the Bears’ issues at quarterback, where Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles both underwhelmed.
Robinson, coming off a three-year, $42 million deal with the Bears, would be one of the top free agents available and both local teams could use some help in that area.
The Giants could move on from Golden Tate, while neither Sterling Shepard nor Darius Slayton stood out in 2020.
As for the Jets, they’re still looking for a coach and have to decide whether to move on from quarterback Sam Darnold after losing out on the top pick — and the chance to draft Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence — to Jacksonville.
Whomever they choose as the quarterback will need more help at the receiver position, a corps that was led by Jamison Crowder this season.
Among the other free-agent targets figure to be Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin and JuJu Smith-Schuster of the Steelers, who also finished up his season when Pittsburgh was upset by Cleveland on Sunday night.