Chicago Bears: How Kenny Golladay’s contract impacts Allen Robinson

Kenny Golladay‘s new contract should be embarrassing to the Chicago Bears for failing to give their star receiver, Allen Robinson, more money than him.

Golladay has reached an agreement with the New York Giants on a four-year, $72 million deal with $40 million guaranteed.

The former receiver for the Detroit Lions was offered between $11-$12 million with the Bears for one year but passed on the offer to take a longer, richer contract with the Giants.

What does this contract mean for star Bears receiver Allen Robinson?

Robinson just signed his franchise tag last Thursday, locking himself in for $18 million this season with the Chicago Bears. Should he be insulted by Golladay’s payday? Absolutely.

Golladay has had one pro-bowl season in 2019, which was his only healthy season in his four total years in the NFL. That season, Golladay caught 65 passes for 1,190 yards, and a league-tying 11 touchdown catches.

Last season, Golladay was injured for most of the season — playing just five total games. He caught 20 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns.

In one game last season, Tyreek Hill caught 13 balls for 269 yards and three touchdowns, doing most of the work Golladay did in a season in one game versus the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And guess what? Hill makes $18 million per year too.

Golladay in his four seasons with the Lions has played 47 of 64 possible games in the NFL. He has recorded 183 receptions for 3,068 yards and 21 total touchdowns — half of them coming in the 2019 season.

Robinson, on the other hand, has been super successful in his career, and recent years. In his career, Robinson has really only missed one season in 2017 with an ACL tear. He has racked up 457 catches, nearly 6,000 receiving yards, and 39 total touchdowns in his seven-year career in the NFL. He has been elected to just as many pro-bowls as Golladay in his career too, with just one.

Last season, Robinson caught 102 passes for 1,250 yards and six touchdowns. Outside of touchdowns, that’s more in each category than Golladay’s best season. Remember, Robinson has never had a Matthew Stafford caliber quarterback as Golladay had in his first four seasons. He has dealt with Blake Bortles, Mitchell Trubisky, and Nick Foles throwing to him.

Let’s compare the two receivers’ best seasons: Golladay in 2019, and Robinson in 2015. Robinson has more receptions, yards, touchdowns, first downs, and yards per target. Golladay had a much better catch rate, only because Robinson had 32 more targets than him.

No offense to Golladay, he’s a great receiver and a major threat in the NFL. He’s simply not as good as Robinson though.

Now how do you think Robinson should feel?

Golladay just came off of his rookie contract and was handed a four-year deal for $72 million after having just one truly successful season. After Robinson similarly had one truly successful season in 2015 and one mildly successful season the following season, Robinson made just $14 million per year over three years with the Bears, and never received an extension.

Bears fans still don’t know what’s to come of Robinson’s future in the NFL. He unexpectedly signed his franchise tag, for either one of two options. Robinson could have suspected the wide receiver market has been undervalued the offseason (Corey Davis $9 million, JuJu Smith-Schuster takes $8 million pay cut). Or, the Bears have secretly told Robinson they plan to trade him, forcing him to sign the franchise tag.

Golladay’s contract value is certainly misleading because the Giants offered him too much money, but you get the idea. Robinson is one of the best receivers in the NFL and is leaps and bounds ahead of Golladay in his career and the present day. He deserves more money and a team that better values him, which isn’t the Bears.