When the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired wide receiver Allen Robinson II in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams last month, they weren’t just acquiring a veteran mentor. Robinson is an accomplished wide receiver and former Pro Bowler, and with multiple 1,000 yard seasons under his belt, he’s a guy who knows what it takes to be a top receiver in the league. Speaking to the media today at his introductory press conference, Robinson talked about how he can help the Steelers’ offense and Kenny Pickett in 2023.
“With some of the things that I’ve been able to do in my past, being able to get activated in the red zone, being able to be a big third-down guy, and different things like that. Just trying to do what I can to help this offense improve and be the best offense that we can be,” Robinson said via audio posted on 93.7 The Fan.
“Playmaking, that’s the main thing. Once you go out there and make some plays for a quarterback and they see you make those plays, that’s the first thing when you’ve kind of built that trust, chemistry and confidence,” he said.
Robinson said he’s also looked into how he can use his route-running to become a playmaker and a weapon for Pickett. In acquiring Robinson, the Steelers are getting a veteran wide receiver who is still fairly young at 29 years old (he’ll be 30 by Week 1), has a history of production (three seasons with over 1,000 yards receiving), and has played a lot in the slot. His experience will make him a mentor to Pittsburgh’s young receiver room featuring second-year wideout George Pickens along with Diontae Johnson. But he’s not just there to help out the younger guys, and Robinson clearly knows what it takes to be a receiving threat himself.
He’s worked with young quarterbacks before, playing alongside Blake Bortles in Jacksonville and Mitch Trubisky in Chicago, so Robinson should know some of the best ways to help out a developing quarterback. Obviously, the hope is that Pickett is a better NFL player than Bortles or Trubisky turned into, but adding a veteran like Robinson while Pickett enters Year 2 should only help his development.
Robinson brings a lot to Pittsburgh, and his prior history of success coupled with experience playing with young quarterbacks definitely makes him an intriguing piece of the puzzle. He’s already put a lot of thought into the ways he can be most effective this season, and if the Steelers are able to get a vintage, 1,000+ yard season out of Robinson, the trade will be a huge win for Pittsburgh. Honestly, even if Robinson isn’t that productive, his presence will make the people around him better, and with the small price paid to acquire him, it’ll still likely be a good deal for the Steelers. But it seems as if Robinson has his sights set on improving off a difficult 2022 season, and it would be awesome to see him bounce back for the Steelers.
