Report: Jaguars Will Try to Re-Sign Allen Robinson After Extending Blake Bortles

The Jacksonville Jaguars will turn their attention to trying to sign wide receiver Allen Robinson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, after agreeing to a three-year, $54 million contract extension with quarterback Blake Bortles over the weekend. 

As Rapoport noted, the Jaguars "created $12.6 million in cap space over the past three days," leaving them the flexibility to reach a contract extension with Robinson. 

Robinson, 24, missed all but one game in the 2017 season due to a torn ACL. He emerged as one of the most dangerous wide receivers in the 2015 campaign, catching 80 passes for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns, though his numbers declined in 2016 (73 catches for 883 yards and six scores).

Robinson's production rise and fall in production was due, at least in part, to Bortles' fluctuations in quality over those seasons. Bortles took a major step forward in 2015, throwing for 4,428 yards, 35 touchdowns and 18 interceptions while completing 58.6 percent of his passes.

But in 2016, his numbers dipped to 3,905 yards, 23 scores and 16 interceptions with a 58.9 completion percentage. He stabilized somewhat in 2017 (3,687 yards, 21 scores, 13 picks, 60.2 completion percentage), aided in part by the addition of rookie running back Leonard Fournette.

With a physical running game in place, one of the best defenses in football and a more steady season from Bortles, the Jaguars reached the AFC Championship Game before falling to the New England Patriots.

Now with the team committing to Bortles for at least three more seasons, the key will be surrounding him with more weapons. Fournette will remain the focal point of the offense, but keeping a big-play threat like Robinson would be a major boost for Jacksonville's offense.  

The Jags have the option of using the franchise tag on Robinson, though that would cost them around $16 million. While the Jags cleared salary-cap space by extending Bortles rather than picking up his fifth-year extension and by releasing running back Chris Ivory, that money could also be used to help shore up the offensive line and add a playmaking tight end. 

The Jaguars, in other words, have some work to do on the offensive side of the ball. But keeping Robinson in Jacksonville now feels like its top priority.