Chase Claypool
Every NFL team in the league would be called the Pittsburgh Steelers if Chase Claypool was on the trading block. His stock is low right now. Teams would be silly not to inquire about the second-year receiver. But that doesn't mean the Steelers should answer the phone.
Always great having @JFowlerESPN on @937thefan. He says agents he's talked to think Chase Claypool is a player that the Steelers will get trade calls on this off-season. Teams will be looking to buy low because of the maturity issues.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) February 10, 2022
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Claypool is coming off an underwhelming, and emotional season. SteelerNation as a whole was frustrated by Claypool's antics, and on-field performance. Whether it was the selfish "me first" celebrations at inopportune times, (see Vikings game) or his consistent falling down on routes that could've been game-changing plays.
Maybe it was the way he tried to defend his actions in Minnesota during that two-minute drive:
"The ball got knocked out of my hands. That's what cost us time.”
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 10, 2021
Chase Claypool on his late celebration during the Steelers' loss to the Vikingspic.twitter.com/haMI5Jkm3l
Regardless, Claypool showed growth and signs of maturity in the final weeks. It was Claypool that hauled in the go-ahead touchdown in Baltimore. He finally was taking advantage of his time on the field. A player that everyone thought would never leave the field heading into the season found himself buried on the depth chart behind Ray-Ray McCloud in some situations.
Week 15, Claypool had two targets and zero receptions. That may have been the moment he grew up. The following four weeks, he hauled in 15 receptions with the aforementioned touchdown in Baltimore. The post play antics weren't as apparent, the mental errors were gone, and he made the plays when he was called upon.
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Trading Claypool would have no benefit for the Steelers. They're already likely losing JuJu Smith-Schuster, and James Washington to free agency. Ray-Ray McCloud is also a free agent, but is likely to return. That would leave the team with only Diontae Johnson if Claypool would be banished.
Quietly Claypool hauled in 59 receptions for 860 yards this season. Three receptions, and 13-yards short of his 2020 campaign. But he did that in one less game. Frankly, I'm shocked he nearly mirrored his rookie numbers considering how I can't think of many games where he made any impact. In 2020, he was a freak of nature. He appeared destined for greatness. But sometimes reading the newspaper clippings gets in the head of these athletes. Claypool seemed full of himself by 2020 season's end. That rolled right into 2021. But it seems like he's growing. Maturing.
You’d like to see a little more decisiveness from Chase Claypool here on the fourth TD celebration, but hey, the guy’s a rookie and actually made a great adjustment to the stick’um move at the last minute pic.twitter.com/22lUG6qhU4
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) October 11, 2020
There is really zero point in trading Claypool with his value at an all-time low, and the Steelers need for so many other areas. Even if you'd acquire much needed draft pick capital, you'd be forced to reinvest it into the position. Claypool has all the tools needed to become a big time threat on the field for the Steelers' next starting quarterback. Hopefully he will mature into that player, because the Steelers are going to need it, and SteelerNation will warm back up to it with each touchdown.
