New Steelers WR Allen 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.”

The Steelers traded with the Rams last month for Robinson. He’s a former Penn State All-American who started his NFL career with the Jaguars. Robinson then signed with the Bears before joining the Rams last fall.

And 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.”

Robinson is trying to return to earlier career form. He enjoyed a good stint with the Bears, leading the NFL in touchdown receptions (14) in 2015. And he notched consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020. Robinson signed a big contract with the Rams after LA won the Super Bowl. But he played in only 10 games last fall, with the Rams placing him on injured reserve in November. Meanwhile, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin elevated Pickett to first team in early October.

So maybe 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.