Earlier in the offseason, the Los Angeles Rams gave Allen Robinson permission to seek a trade. It was surprising news just one year after the team signed Robinson to a three-year deal worth $46.5 million, especially given the salary cap implications of such a move.
Well, the Rams have found a trade partner and will send Robinson to the Steelers as long as he passes his physical on Wednesday. It’s abundantly clear that this trade isn’t about gaining draft capital or making the roster better this year. All the Rams got from this trade compensation-wise was a 17-spot jump in the seventh round; they’re sending Pittsburgh the 251st pick in the draft along with Robinson and will receive the 234th pick.
This trade also didn’t save the Rams any cap space in 2023. According to Over The Cap, the Rams will now take on $21.45 million in dead money for Robinson, which is $3.4 million more than he was set to count against the cap if he were on the roster. Robinson’s cap hit with the Rams was $18.05 million in 2023 before this trade.
The Rams are taking a loss on this trade because they’re paying $10.25 million of Robinson’s remaining salary, with the Steelers only picking up the other $5 million. Typically, the receiving team would take on the player’s entire base salary, but the Rams were willing to take the hit this year in order to move Robinson.
So as of now, the Rams have $7.2 million in cap space, per Over The Cap, after previously having $10.6 million before this trade.
