One thing about the Pittsburgh Steelers that can’t be denied is their loyalty.
Loyalty to players, coaches, front office members and fans.
But sometimes that loyalty comes back to bite them (Matt Canada) and you can’t help but wonder if something similar is going to happen between them and WR Allen Robinson:
Steelers Want WR Allen Robinson Back
Allen Robinson is a potential cut candidate due to his cap number exceeding $10 million, but the Pittsburgh Steelers would prefer to retain him at a reduced salary. Team officials met with Robinson’s representation in Indianapolis. -Ari Meirov, The 33rd Team
Robinson has a base salary of $10 million including a roster bonus that triggers on March 18 if he is still part of the team.
Should he be released, he would clear $10 million cap space and allocate less than $2 million in dead money because of his prorated signing bonus.
That’s a long way to say why would the Steelers leave that much money on the table for a WR that has been relegated to an excellent blocker at this stage of his career, but offers little in the passing game? Robinson caught a mere 34 balls for 280 yards and no TDs in 2023, and that was as the third option on the team, only behind Diontae Johnson and George Pickens in target share.
A good question and one I don’t have an answer to. The interesting part is that Pittsburgh wants him back and Robinson’s representation isn’t opposed, because if they were, he would have already been cut.
But if Robinson is back for anything more than the league minimum, it leaves you wondering just how competent the Steelers staff is when it comes to free-agent roster construction.