Kenny Pickett reveals early impressions of new Steelers WR Allen Robinson

The Steelers gave QB Kenny Pickett a solid new target for his second season in the form of veteran WR Allen Robinson. Now, as he enters his 10th season in the NFL, Pickett is already getting a sense of what it’s like to have another experienced player in Pittsburgh’s receiving corps.

Pickett applauded Robinson’s presence while speaking to the media this week. He appreciates the mature mindset that he has brought with him into their franchise locker room, especially because it has helped the two of them build chemistry already

“I mean I love Allen, man,” Pickett said. “He shows up every day with a mindset that he wants to work and get better. If you have that? You’re gonna get there sooner or later. (And) definitely sooner with him with his work ethic and how much communication he has with myself and the stuff that we’re doing when nobody is watching or something like that.”

“I think those things go a long way,” said Pickett. “So we’ll get caught up quickly and I think we’re pretty much close to being there.”

As he reaches a decade as a pro in 2023, Robinson already has 528 career receptions over 110 games with Jacksonville, Chicago, and Los Angeles. That has led to 6,748 receiving yards and 43 touchdowns. However, he’s coming off a career worst season with the Rams where he caught just 33 passes for 339 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Still, considering the state of the Steeler’s pass catchers, Robinson is a quality option at almost 30 years old. Alongside Diontae Johnson and George Pickens with Pat Freiermuth as well, that should give Pickett plenty of options to get the ball too as he enters his next season in the league.

Robinson says Kenny Pickett is ‘wise beyond his years’

Allen Robinson, the newest Steelers receiver, is liking what he sees from quarterback Kenny Pickett. It’s not so much about his arm, but rather an aura.

“Leaders are born,” Allen Robinson said this week about Kenny Pickett. “It doesn’t take a lot of time for a guy who is a natural leader. I think anybody here can tell that from Kenny. I have been here a little over a month and you can already tell his leadership, how he leads the charge day in and day out. For a second-year guy, that isn’t easy. For a guy to be able to take a bull by the horns like that, it’s pretty impressive.”

Robinson conceded that he used to watch Pickett when he played for the Pitt Panthers. Being that Robinson is a Nittany Lion, there probably is some natural interest in checking on the Panthers, the other team in Pennsylvania.

“I am a person who watches a lot of football,” Robinson said. “And I was able to watch Kenny in college in some of those big games. When you have a guy like that who has a knack for winning, a knack for being the kind of player he has been, which is leading all of the groups he has been a part of. I don’t think that goes anywhere once a guy gets to the NFL. Once you put other guys around him, you start to see that player evolve into even more of a guy.”

Now, in Pittsburgh, Robinson can enjoy a rebirth with a second-year quarterback with a dozen starts to his credit.

“For a second-year quarterback he is definitely wise beyond his years,” Allen Robinson said of Kenny Pickett. “How he leads the charge. His work ethic day in and day out. Very focused. He is definitely beyond his years.

“I was impressed when I got here. Watching somebody from the outside looking in, you definitely see the talent. Once you actually get in the facility and are able to be around Kenny, you see why he is successful.