If the Chicago Bears were planning to team Allen Robinson with Kenny Golladay to create a formidable pass-catching duo to spark this offense, then I hope they are ready with contingency plans.
Kenny Golladay is off to the Big Apple:
The #Giants and Kenny Golladay have a 4 year, $72M deal with a max of $76M with $40m guaranteed
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 20, 2021
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport tweets the Giants are signing Golladay to a four-year deal worth as much as $76 million. The deal includes $40 million in guarantees and comes out to an average of $18 million per year. So, ultimately, Golladay gets what he wants in terms of a per-year salary and the security of a multi-year contract. That’s a win for a player in a market where receivers aren’t cashing in as one might come to expect. But it’s a loss for the Bears, which is becoming a far-too-common trend this offseason.
Chicago showed interest in Golladay, a local product who played his high school ball at St. Rita and collegiately at Northern Illinois. The Bears met with Golladay and reportedly floated a short-term offer with the idea of him rebuilding his value after an injury shortened 2021. Instead, it’s back to the drawing board for GM Ryan Pace. Go figure.
I’m curious as to what this could mean for receiver Allen Robinson II. Late last week, Robinson accepted the Franchise Tag tender that will pay him $18 million per year. But after seeing Golladay get just $18 million, with just $40 million guaranteed, I think Robinson’s realistic asking price in this market takes a hit. Recent contracts of at least $18 millionAAV have come with higher guarantees. For instance, take Amari Cooper ($20M AAV, $60M guaranteed) and Keenan Allen ($20.025M AAV, $50M guaranteed) who signed lucrative contracts in 2020.
There are still plenty of receivers on the market. Although, few (if any) have Golladay’s upside. The Bears were reportedly kicking the tires on Isaiah McKenzie, a slot receiver with kick return experience who put up a career year with the Bills last season. Take that for what it’s worth.
More to come later.