Patriots: Ranking rumored wide receiver targets for New England

3. Allen Robinson

This was a hope for last offseason when many believed the Chicago Bears wouldn’t hit Allen Robinson with the franchise tag. But they did. And he proceeded to have a career-worst season, so he’ll be a free agent when the new league year begins.

Robinson, it seemed, never wanted to be in Chicago, but he had no choice after the tag kept him there for one more year. Now, the Bears won’t be investing that much money in him after a 38-catch, 410-yard season with just one touchdown in 12 starts.

Bad timing for him, though, because teams won’t be lining up to invest in that production (which was affected by injuries) with long-term deals. Robinson might need to take a one- or two-year contract to rebuild his value, and that could fit the Patriots’ situation with the little they have to spend.

Allen’s 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame is what Jones is missing in the passing game. Well, he’s technically not, because Harry was supposed to be that guy (he’s 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds), but he’s definitely not getting the production or seeing the benefit from the former first-round pick.

Robinson’s proven to possess a superior ability to use his body in all different types of passing situations. He can beat defensive backs deep, over the middle, or on short routes. He can overpower them with his strength and leap over them for tough grabs in acrobatic fashion. In 2020, he racked up 1,250 receiving yards with Nick Foles and Mitchell Trubisky as his quarterbacks.

With other real receiving threats on the Patriots opening up the field for him, he can do even better than that with Jones, who’s already an accurate passer.