Robinson, who is 29 years old, is coming off his worst two-season stretch of football in his professional career. In 2021 with the Chicago Bears, he caught 38 passes on 66 targets, scoring just one touchdown in 12 games. All of these marks were career-low numbers, excluding his 2017 season in Jacksonville in which he played just three snaps before suffering an injury.
After his down season, he signed a three-year deal in the 2022 offseason worth $46.5 million with the Los Angeles Rams. Despite some high expectations with the then-reigning Super Bowl champions, Robinson caught just 33 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games.
Despite his recent lulls in production, the Steelers appear to be betting on the former second-round pick’s history. Robinson accumulated 5,999 yards and 39 touchdowns in his first seven seasons with both the Jaguars and Bears, overcoming years with subpar quarterback play that gave him a reputation of being “QB-proof.”
Robinson is owed a guaranteed $15.25 million in 2023, $5.25 million of which the Rams have already paid in the form of a roster bonus. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Rams will pay half the remaining $10 million in 2023 in order to facilitate the trade, leaving the Steelers with a remaining $5 million.
The Steelers acquire Robinson as a veteran to pair up with second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett as the franchise continues to see what it has in the Pitt product. He will also join young pass-catchers Diontae Johnson, George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth as a veteran presence on a relatively youthful offense.
While the deal is not yet official, the expectation is that the trade will be made if the Steelers are satisfied with Robinson’s physical. The Steelers would acquire another wide receiver to play on the outside or in the slot, replacing the hole left when Pittsburgh traded wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears for a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The pending trade for Robinson also gives the team flexibility going forward. The Steelers could feel less pressure to add to the wide receiver position in the upcoming draft, and Robinson’s contract has a potential out after the 2023 season. If the Steelers are discontent with Robinson’s production, he can be cut with a dead-cap hit of $8.4 million, saving the team $10.15 million or $15.75 million on the 2024 cap, depending on if he is released before or after June 1.
