The Chicago Bears’ history isn’t littered with too many worthwhile No. 1 wide receivers. And that should come as no surprise to anyone reading this. After all, Muhsin Muhammad once proclaimed Chicago is where receivers come to die.
Perhaps this franchise will shake that reputation after an offseason that saw the team spend more than $50 million in guaranteed money in free agency to attract three highly sought after free agent pass catchers, then use two draft picks as part of an offensive overhaul. If it happens, Allen Robinson is going to be in the middle of the action.
ESPN’s Mike Clay ran through the list of each NFL team’s No. 1 wide receiver and landed on Robinson when it came to the Bears.
Chicago’s high-priced free agent addition isn’t some sort of de facto WR1 by name only, either. Not after what he did with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Not only did Robinson’s 80-catch, 1,400-yard, 14-touchdown season in 2015 establish him as a top-tier receiver, it was good enough to make fans and analysts alike believe the arrow was pointing way up for Blake Bortles. Hey! Nobody’s perfect.
Having moved on from Jacksonville, Robinson will now have to apply what he learned working through Bortles’ growing phase to a quarterback who clearly needed someone he could trust throwing the football. Because even with the excitement and athleticism Mitch Trubisky brought to the gridiron in his 12 starts during his rookie season, the Bears’ passing offense ranked dead last in the NFL in 2018. If for no other reason, the Bears’ production (or lack thereof) led to an offseason spending spree and remodeling of the receivers room.
Robinson’s numbers suggest he will be up to the challenge. Even though he played just three snaps in 2017, Robinson ranked in the top-10 in the league in targets in 2015 and 2016. Further, the talented wide receiver was given 25 percent of the team’s target share in each of those seasons.
GM Ryan Pace made good on his promise to bring in worthwhile targets for Trubisky to throw to in 2018. And while the Bears added eight new receivers and a fresh face at the top of their tight end depth chart, figure Robinson to get a lion’s share of the attention from Trubisky. Based on Robinson’s history with the Jaguars, he should feel right at home with all the attention he is projected to receive.