Steelers Want WR Allen Robinson II Back at Reduced Salary

The Pittsburgh Steelers met with the representatives of wide receiver Allen Robinson II in Indianapolis last week during the NFL Combine, according to a report by Ari Meirov of 33rd Team.

Robinson was in Indianapolis along with the Pittsburgh brass and his agents, Jovan and Roosevelt Barnes. Robinson was there doing media work for Sirius XM Radio.

According to Meirov, the Steelers met with Robinson’s agents because they would like for him to return to the team in 2024, but need him to do so at a lower salary cap hit than the $11.9 million he is currently slated to cost.

Robinson had a $10 million salary and a $1.9 million deferred signing bonus payment counting against the Steelers salary cap in 2024, the final season of the contract that he initially signed with the Los Angeles Rams and restructured last year. The Steelers do not need to make more salary cap space in order to be salary cap compliant, but will likely need to do so in order to acquire free agents.

Nothing can be done about the $1.9 million signing bonus, which will count against the Steelers’ cap this season whether Robinson plays here or not, but the rest of his salary will be zeroed if the Steelers release him.

Instead of that, it seems that the Steelers are hoping Robinson and his reps will take another renegotiation. After acquiring him in 2023, the Steelers got Robinson to waive a $5 million roster bonus, which significant reduced his cap hit for last season.

Robinson played and started in all 17 games for the Steelers in 2023, but was a not a significant contributor to the team’s passing game. He caught 34 of 49 passes for 280 yards and did not score a touchdown. He finished fourth on the team in targets and receptions and fifth in yards, behind fellow wide receivers Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, tight end Pat Freiermuth and running back Jaylen Warren, despite Freiermuth and Johnson both missing significant time with injuries.

Including Robinson, the Steelers have their four wide receivers from 2023 under contract, with Calvin Austin III joining the top three. No. 5 receiver and special teamer Miles Boykin is a free agent.