There are several new faces in the Pittsburgh Steelers' locker room in 2023. Aside from the NFL Draft, there were a plethora of experienced guys brought in via free agency and trade, so the team is going to look extremely different in Kenny Pickett's second season. General Manager, Omar Khan and Head Coach, Mike Tomlin made it a point throughout the long break to address key areas on both sides of the ball in order to put the unit in the best position to win in 2023. Two of the bigger names and veterans who will have an impact on and off the field are cornerback, Patrick Peterson and wide receiver, Allen Robinson.
Steelers cornerback, Patrick Peterson sits down to sign his two-year contract with Pittsburgh at the team's facility. | Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Peterson will be a big help to the defense and provide significant veteran leadership, but not many people have been talking about Robinson. The almost 30-year old is under team control through the 2024 season and has an opportunity to revive his career in Pittsburgh. He won't be handed anything, though, as another potential slot receiver, Calvin Austin III, is hungry for his first NFL action after missing his entire rookie season.
Long-time Steelers insider, Mark Kaboly, joined Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson on the The Fan Morning Show on Wednesday. They began to talk football and Kaboly was asked about who he believes could be a potential breakout player for the team in 2023. He didn't go with the obvious answers of George Pickens or Pickett. He pointed the finger at Robinson.
"I'm a big Allen Robinson guy. Even though he's 30 years old, been in the league what, seven, eight years. Had a couple 1,200-yard seasons. I think he could be put in a position in the slot, in the third down conversions, in the red zone to be able to be highly successful this year."
Kaboly has a good point when it comes to relying on the veteran in key situations. If defenses are focused on Pickens and Diontae Johnson, it might allow the former Pro Bowler to sneak open and have several game-deciding plays in his first season with the Steelers.
Steelers wide receiver, Allen Robinson prepares to make a catch during his first season in Pittsburgh as 2023 Organized Team Activities. | Photo Credit: Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
The reporter then took a step back and admitted that it was clear the Los Angeles Rams were willing to do pretty much the bare minimum to move on from Robinson who wasn't fantastic in 2022.
"I was skeptical as everyone else is, but the Rams just dumped him for basically nothing, how much does he have left? I watched like all of us, I watched him last year and he wasn't very good."
In his final and only season with the Rams, Robinson played in just 10 games, hauling in 33 catches for 339 yards and three touchdowns. Those three scores would have been second for Steelers' receivers in 2022 only behind Pickens. Kaboly doesn't think it was a fair year to evaluate Robinson given the quarterback situation as Matthew Stafford was banged up most of the season and played in just nine games.
Former Los Angeles Rams and current Steelers wide receiver, Allen Robinson celebrates in the end zone after scoring a touchdown during the 2022 regular season. | Photo Credit: AP Photo / Ashley Landis
Kaboly Compares Steelers' Robinson To Former Veteran Wide Receiver Who Had Unexpected Breakout Year In 2013
Kaboly echoed that sentiment and even gave Robinson a slight comparison to Jerricho Cotchery, who had an extremely unexpected breakout season for the Steelers in 2013 with 10 receiving touchdowns.
"I think he was put in a position to fail to be honest with you without [Matthew] Stafford and how that team wasn't playing very well. I think he has a good possibility to have, I don't want to say the Jerricho Cotchery type of year, because that was unbelievable... I'm saying Allen Robinson as my breakout performer."
The deeper the wide receiver room, the better for Pittsburgh. If Robinson can make an impact early, the entire offense may have a chance to surprise a lot of teams and opposing fanbases. A mix of Johnson, Pickens, Robinson and Austin III all performing would be a scary sight, but overall, Robinson could hold off the exciting expectations for Austin III if the veteran takes charge and proves to be extremely valuable early in the 2023 season.
Do you think Robinson has what it takes to be a breakout performer for the Steelers in 2023? Let us know in the comments below!
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