The Pittsburgh Steelers traded Wide Receiver Chase Claypool Tuesday 11/1 before the 4pm EST NFL Trade Deadline. Claypool was in his third season in Pittsburgh after the Steelers drafted him 49th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Claypool started in all eight games for Pittsburgh this season and had 32 catches for 311 yards and one touchdown.
The Trade
Pittsburgh received the Chicago Bears’ second round pick in the 2023 NFL draft in exchange for Claypool. This is a very high return for a third year player who has slightly underperformed. For a player in Claypool’s situation, a team is usually lucky to receive draft compensation one or even two rounds lower than where they drafted that player. Not only did the Steelers get the same round pick back for Claypool, they probably will get a draft pick that is higher than the one they spent on the Notre Dame product.
For a time after the trade was announced there was a question of which second round pick Pittsburgh would get. The Bears also have the second round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2023 draft, which they just acquired by trading Roquan Smith. However, it was confirmed on Tuesday that the pick Pittsburgh would receive was in fact, Chicago’s.
The Steelers likely will now have three picks inside the top 50 in the next draft. A good note for a team that is currently 2-6.
The Player
While the package is too good to pass up, you do have to feel a little bad that it didn’t work out with Chase Claypool. After an excellent rookie campaign (62 catches, 873 yards, 9 touchdowns) fans thought they had a WR1. Claypool also boasted the ideal height/weight/speed for the role. However, Claypool sort of lost a home in the Steelers offense.
Drafted to be a downfield “Z” receiver, Claypool struggled the last season and a half. He’s not a great jump-ball player despite his size. And doesn’t have the right quickness to gain separation and stack defenders, despite his speed.
This year, after the departure of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Claypool started operating in the slot. But that was also not a great fit. Claypool doesn’t have the same feel or toughness as Smith-Schuster to operate in that part of the field.
Claypool is certainly talented. And I hope, and expect, him to find a way to succeed in Chicago. Being a number one receiver there in an offense with an extremely mobile QB might turn out to be perfect for him. But unfortunately in Pittsburgh the timing and production just never quite matched up.
It also didn’t help that there were apparently issues behind the scenes.
I definitely don’t include these as a shot at Chase Claypool on the way out. Just added context. If true, then both sides seem to have a disagreement about Claypool’s role moving forward, but professionally dealt with it and got a deal done that works for both sides.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will lean more heavily on veterans like Diontae Johnson and Pat Freiermuth, as well as rookie George Pickens as they try to turn this season around. The Steelers have a bye week this week before their Week 10 matchup with the New Orleans Saints.
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