4 underrated Steelers who could have a significant impact this season

2. Allen Robinson, Wide Receiver

Allen Robinson is easily the most recognizable name on this list, as he is a former Pro Bowler, who has topped 1000 yards three times in his NFL career. However, despite that, he no longer appears to be the same receiver as he has had consecutive down years and is now 30 years old.

Despite that the Steelers took a chance on him, trading a 7th-round pick to acquire Robinson and a 7th-round pick. While the trade didn't really have any risk in terms of what the Steelers gave up, it was more so a salary dump as the Steelers will be paying some of his contract this year. There are several factors that make this an intriguing trade for the Steelers.

First, maybe Robinson has something left in the tank. While he has had down years the last two years, and won't be the player he once was, that doesn't mean he doesn't have anything left in the tank. Robinson will be the third receiver for Pittsburgh behind Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, so won't be relied upon for huge production, but will be a reliable veteran presence who can make some plays when called upon. Add to that that Robinson has not had strong quarterback play throughout his career and we could potentially see him have the best quarterback play of his career, while facing opposing teams' number three cornerbacks. While Matt Stafford is easily the best quarterback he's played with, Stafford played last year with a shoulder injury, and was not the Matt Stafford other star wide receivers have played with.

The other reason this acquisition is intriguing is not necessarily about Robinson's play on the field. Instead, Robinson becomes the veteran presence in an extremely young wide receiver room. Prior to his arrival Johnson was the oldest player in the room, and he's only 27 years old. These younger receivers could benefit from having Robinson on the team and learning from him, particularly George Pickens, and Diontae Johnson, to a lesser extent. Pickens flashed his upside last year and showed he can become a dynamic receiver at the NFL level. But while he was explosive, it was clear that he doesn't run a full route tree, and his route running is still raw. Playing alongside a seasoned veteran in Robinson could help unlock a new level for Pickens, by refining his route running and expanding his route tree.