Chicago Bears: How the Hopkins deal makes Ryan Pace look bad

Chicago Bears fans should be up in arms more than ever after the Arizona Cardinals extended DeAndre Hopkins.

I join Chicago Bears fans everywhere in shaking my head at this point in time.

It was a quiet afternoon scrolling through Twitter when I saw the announcement of Arizona Cardinals wideout DeAndre Hopkins‘ deal.

There was a very audible “holy crap”, to say the least.

One of the best receivers was in the league was getting an extension…with three years still left on his current deal. The extension was capped by making him the highest-paid non-QB in National Football League history.

Cool. Good for him.

Meanwhile, Bears No.1 wide receiver Allen Robinson is on the last year of his current deal and he is yet to hear a word from management on an extension for himself.

Que that good ol’ Chicago football rage.

As a Pro-Bowl worthy receiver entering his prime and gathering almost 100 receptions and over 1,100 yards last year, most fans figured an A-Rob extension was a no-brainer.

However, throughout the summer there was no word out from anyone. There was a little bit of worrying setting in, but in the middle of a pandemic, nothing is on a true timeline.

Plus, let’s put this in perspective: Akiem Hicks, Kyle Long, Cody Whitehair, Charles Leno Jr., and Eddie Goldman have all gotten long-term contracts from Pace very late in the offseason (talking late August and early September).

First, August training camp rolled around. Then September hit.

Then, this tweet from Robinson himself:

Speaking to his lack of contract negotiations, Bears Twitter then launched into rage and pitchforks calling for the head of Ryan Pace unless he extends the veteran receiver. Fans have every right in the world to be furious too.

While there is a significant difference in talent between Hopkins and Robinson, the latter made his case for being a Pro Bowler with debatably a far less talented quarterback on a less talented offense.

Houston finished as the 15th passing offense with Deshaun Watson at quarterback last season, while the Bears were 25th with a combination of Mitchell Trubisky and Chase Daniel.

Both receivers were the best talent on their respective offenses but Robinson was way more important in terms of his production and was the first 1,000-yard receiver for Chicago since Alshon Jeffery‘s 2014 campaign.

Passer rating improved when throwing to Robinson from 2018 to 2019 (85.2 to 90.2) according to Pro Football Reference. A-Rob was in the top five in converting contested catches the last three years, among other receivers like Stefon Diggs, Chris Godwin, and some guy named Michael Thomas.

Oh yeah, and he’s also in the top 40 all-time in receiving yards for the franchise. He’s been here two years and could potentially jump into top-15 if he repeats his 2019 stat line.

Above all of that, Robinson just turned 27 which is otherwise known as most people’s athletic prime. He’s earned his next contract, proving that his ACL tear a few years ago was nothing more than a bump in the road.

After the Hopkins deal, Pace will have to face down the fact that he will have to most likely overpay Robinson, even though he’s not a top-5 guy at his position.

The longer the Bears’ GM waits, the more frustrated the Chicago wideout will grow. If Pace waits too long, he might be too late.