Pittsburgh Steelers trade for Pro Bowl receiver

Last season the Pittsburgh Steelers had Chase Claypool, a large, athletic possession receiver for Kenny Pickett to grow with. But the Steelers sent Claypool to the Chicago Bears at the trade deadline in exchange for the 32nd pick in the NFL Draft.

Now, they may be replacing Claypool with Allen Robinson, who spent last season with the Los Angeles Rams. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Steelers have been granted permission to bring Robinson into the facility for a sports physical, giving Pittsburgh’s doctors a chance to clear him medically before agreeing to a trade. The physical is scheduled for Wednesday.

That trade has now been completed, pending Robinson’s physical; here are the details for each side.

Pittsburgh Steelers trade: 2023 seventh-round pick (No. 234)
Los Angeles Rams trade: Allen Robinson, 2023 seventh-round pick (No. 251)

It makes sense for the Rams to allow such a move, as Robinson didn’t exactly flourish in his first season in L.A. after signing a three-year, $46.5 million contract with the team last offseason.

Allen Robinson contract: $18M cap hit in 2023, $18.5M cap hit in 2024

The Rams can save as much as $6.8 million on their 2023 salary cap by trading Robinson, but they’d also suffer a dead cap charge of $11.2 million.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes the Rams are paying $10.25 million of the $15 million in salary guarantees Robinson has for next year. The Steelers will pay the other $5 million.

Robinson’s past two seasons haven’t been anything like what we’ve seen when Robinson is at his best.

Allen Robinson stats last season: 33 receptions, 339 receiving yards, 3 TD

After making the Pro Bowl with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2015 thanks to a 1,400-yard, 14 TD season, Robinson later joined the Chicago Bears, where he’d record two more 1,000-yard years in 2019 and 2020.

One could argue that Robinson has never played with an excellent QB, and there’s no guarantee Pickett develops into one either, but their partnership should only help each other excel in the future. Robinson is still just 29, is a big target at 6-foot-2, and is now heading to Pittsburgh with a large chip on his shoulders, looking to bounce back after two disappointing seasons.

Robinson joins a receiving corps led by Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and Pat Freiermuth, giving their second-year QB a formidable group to grow with.