The Pittsburgh Steelers have changed their offseason approach under general manager Omar Khan. For the longest time, they would sit back and watch the free agency frenzy unfold, focusing on building their roster through the draft. This offseason, however, they took a different approach.
The Steelers were as aggressive as ever in free agency, making deals at a rapid pace. They filled numerous holes on the roster with veteran free agent signings, something that rarely occurred previously. The trade market is where they may have made the biggest impact.
Pittsburgh made multiple deals during the 2023 NFL Draft, which were lauded by analysts and fans alike. But, their most impressive trade came before the draft. They acquired wide receiver Allen Robinson from the Los Angeles Rams in a move that Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk raved about.
How much did Florio like the deal for the Steelers? He actually believes that could be the steal of the offseason. “They’re gonna make a lot of people wish they had taken a closer look and tried to get Allen Robinson.”
The Steelers are basically taking a free flier on Robinson. They swapped seventh-round picks with the Rams, who agreed to pay $10 million of the $15 million that Robinson is owed this season.
Robinson struggled in 2022, his first in Los Angeles, catching 33 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns. It wasn’t the kind of impact he or the team was expecting, as he signed a three-year, $46.5 million deal last year in free agency to replace Odell Beckham Jr.
It was the second straight year that Robinson struggled mightily, so there likely aren’t many expectations as he heads toward the Steel City. At the very least, he is a veteran that a young group of wide receivers can count on for leadership and guidance.
The Steelers could see this as more than a one-year rental, however. They reworked his contract, as he took a $5 million pay cut for 2024, which leads one to believe Robinson is someone that the team wants to keep in Pittsburgh.
If he can stay healthy and return to the level he was at before 2021 and 2022, the Steelers have certainly gotten the steal of the offseason. Robinson has three 1,000-yard seasons in his career and the ability to be a true No. 1 wide receiver. He is an excellent complement to Diontae Johnson, George Pickens and Calvin Austin III, who missed his entire rookie campaign with an injury.
