A year after the Rams agreed to pay much of Allen Robinson‘s salary to land minor compensation from the Steelers, the veteran wide receiver will be cut. Pittsburgh is moving on from Robinson, ESPN.com’s Field Yates tweets.
No guarantees remained on the 10-year veteran’s deal, giving the Steelers $10MM in cap space via this cut. Robinson’s stock has been trending downward since his 2021 franchise tag season in Chicago, though he did hold an auxiliary role in Pittsburgh last season. The Steelers will only be on the hook for $1.9MM in prorated signing bonus.
Robinson’s yardage output trailed his disappointing totals from 2021 and 2022; the ex-Jaguars draftee caught 34 passes for 280 yards and no touchdowns as a Steeler. The team has Diontae Johnson and George Pickens entrenched as starters, though it will be interesting to see how the team rounds out its receiving corps under Arthur Smith. Johnson and Pickens also trudged through inconsistent seasons. Pickens, however, caught fire late to help Pittsburgh back into the playoffs. Two years remain on the former second-rounder’s rookie contract, while Johnson is going into a walk year.
All the Rams could muster in the Robinson trade was a 17-spot jump in last year’s seventh round. The NFC West team also picked up some of the Robinson tab to entice the Steelers to take on the contract. The Rams had signed Robinson to a three-year, $46.5MM deal in 2022, but the big-bodied receiver could not bounce back after showing concerning form on the tag with the Bears.
This marks a third notable Steelers cut in two days. The team released Keanu Neal on Thursday and moved on from Patrick Peterson earlier today. Between the moves, the team has picked up more than $18MM in cap room.
Like Peterson, Robinson suited up for every Steelers game last year. But the three-time 1,000-yard receiver has lost much of the separation ability he once possessed. Serving as the Bears’ No. 1 wideout for three seasons, Robinson posted just 410 yards on the tag in 2021. He still did well to land the contract he did from the Rams, picking up significant guaranteed cash. The Bears were once rewarded for gambling on Robinson after a 2017 ACL tear, and while he is only 30 despite having been in the NFL 10 seasons, the end of the line appears near for the Penn State product.
In my opinion, this really only shows us fans what a reminder it is for how impressive Mike Evans’ consistency has truly been.
It’s a shame Robinson fell off a cliff just when he was getting his first ever chance to work with a good QB in LA. He was such a good receiver in such lousy situations for so long.
They should have never traded for him
I disagree. Not sure that we could have done that much better for a blocking WR. I am disappointed that he didn’t have as much of a veteran influence/impact on the younger WR however. I think he tried with Pickens but I’m not sure anyone is going to get through to players these days in our world of stat driven contracts/adoration
As if Pickens needed his help. You’re delusional. He was useless and overrated.
Welcome to Baltimore! This is the Ravens favorite type of WR
Old?
The Ravens have a favorite type of receiver other than “ block when Lamar scrambles”?
He’ll be back on a cheaper deal
He very well might be if he’s up for it. He’s been a great influence on the young guys. But it might depend on how the draft goes first.
Great influence on the young guys? Haha. Pickens showed his maturity and Johnson showed his willingness to block
Man the nfl moves so fast lol. I remember his prime years in Chicago he was making huge catches and doing numbers. Maybe he ends up with Patriots in a veteran role
Bring in Tyler Boyd to fill that role
Tyler boyd is just as washed. If he didn’t have Pittsburgh ties no one would want him
Should’ve taken the deal to play with Rodgers but chose Cutler instead all those years ago.
I think you mean Trubisky. Cutler left the Bears in 2016. Robinson joined Chicago in 2018.
I’d love to see what he has left in the tank. With Pittsburgh’s offense so underwhelming, from QB play to coaching, he may do well as a depth player with a more talented team.
Just like he was so good with Matt Stafford?