The Pittsburgh Steelers have informed wide receiver Allen Robinson II that he will be released, a source told Steelers Now. Field Yates of ESPN first reported the news.
Robinson had been set to earn $10 million in salary in 2024, all of which will come off the team’s salary cap rolls for the upcoming season. Omar Khan and company had been attempting to negotiate a deal that would bring Robinson back to Pittsburgh at a reduced salary, but were apparently unable to do so.
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 as a dead cap hit.
The Steelers had success in getting Robinson to reduce his salary once before. 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. But they were apparently unable to go to that well once again.
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.
Without Robinson, the Steelers have their three of their wide receivers from 2023 under contract, with Calvin Austin III joining the top three. No. 5 receiver and special teamer Miles Boykin is also a free agent.
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