Steelers and Rams Shake Up NFL with Blockbuster Trade for Allen Robinson: Expert Grades and Analysis Inside
In 2022, Robinson participated in 10 matches for Los Angeles.
NFL Media reports that a trade between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Los Angeles Rams is close, and it will bring veteran wide receiver Allen Robinson to the Steelers. The Rams have given permission to Robinson to undergo a physical examination with the Steelers’ medical team. Robinson will join the Steelers if the results of the physical are satisfactory.
Robinson is coming to Pittsburgh following a season with the Rams where he only played in 10 games due to a foot injury. He was ultimately placed on injured reserve towards the end of November and had to undergo foot surgery, which ended his season. Given these circumstances, it seems that the focus of Pittsburgh’s evaluation of Robinson will primarily center around the recovery of his foot before completing the trade.
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According to ESPN, the Los Angeles Rams will receive a seventh-round pick (No. 234) as compensation for trading wide receiver Allen Robinson to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In addition, the Steelers will send their own seventh-round pick (No. 251) to the Rams. Robinson had signed a three-year, $46.5 million contract with the Rams last year and is owed $15.25 million in guaranteed money for the upcoming season. The Rams will cover $10.25 million of Robinson’s salary, while the remaining $5 million will be paid by the Steelers.
Robinson was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of the 2014 draft after playing for Penn State. He had his best year in the league with the Jaguars in 2015, catching 80 passes for 1,400 yards and leading the league with 14 touchdown receptions. This performance earned him his only Pro Bowl appearance. Robinson became a free agent in 2018 and signed a four-year, $43 million contract with the Chicago Bears. He continued to impress, achieving back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020. Last season, as a member of the Rams, Robinson had 33 catches for 339 yards and three touchdowns.
Assuming this agreement is completed, Robinson will become a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ group of wide receivers, which already consists of Diontae Johnson and George Pickens.
Trade grades
Steelers: B+
Pittsburgh is taking a low-risk approach with their trade for Robinson, simply exchanging seventh-round picks and paying a modest $5 million to see if he can recapture his form from his time with the Bears in 2020. With Johnson and Pickens already on the team, Robinson is not expected to be a top-two option in the Steelers’ passing game, but rather a potential high-reward third option. It’s worth noting that Robinson has not had many standout quarterbacks in his NFL career, but with Kenny Pickett on board, who is considered one of the best passers he’s ever played with, it will be interesting to see how the offense develops in Pickett’s second year, provided Robinson is healthy.
Rams: F
The franchise’s acquisition of Robinson is considered one of the worst in recent history. Robinson’s season with the Rams in 2022 was marred by injuries, and he was only able to participate in 10 games. Despite this, he will receive $25.75 million in cash for his short stint with the team. While it is commendable for the franchise to limit their losses, they essentially paid two-thirds of Robinson’s guaranteed money for 2023 just to move up 17 spots in the seventh round, which is not an exciting return on investment.
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