The Pittsburgh Steelers officially turned the page and gave the keys to Kenny Pickett to make his first start in their Week 5 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Pickett finished the game with 327 yards passing and 1 interception. It appeared that Pickett was on his way to throwing multiple touchdowns until horrendous play calling by offensive coordinator Matt Canada stalled multiple drives in the RedZone.
Most of the receiving core had a quiet performance other than rookie receiver George Pickens, who has been gaining steam over the last few weeks after a slow start to the season.
Steelers receiver Chase Claypool during warmups before the Steelers Week 4 matchup against the New York Jets. | Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
But there is one receiver who has continued to struggle and find his identity for multiple seasons and that's Chase Claypool. Claypool had an impressive rookie season in 2020 where he started 16 games and recorded 9 touchdowns including a 4-touchdown performance against the Philadelphia Eagles. After such an explosive rookie season, it was expected that he would make a tremendous stride in his sophomore season and eventually end up as the team's number-one receiver.
Since his breakout rookie season, Claypool has seen a significant drop in production and has only recorded 2 touchdowns since 2020. One glaring issue was brought to light last season during the Steelers' Thursday Night Football matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
During Pittsburgh's final drive which was potentially game-tying, Claypool caught a pass that gave the team a first down on the Vikings' 20-yard line with only seconds on the clock. Instead of hurrying back to the line of scrimmage, Claypool went out of his way to signal for a first down and caused precious seconds to run off the clock. His actions proved to be costly, as the Steelers ran out of time and ended up losing a game that they needed dearly in such a tight AFC Wildcard race.
Frustration was loud from both the Steeler fans and the national media. Since then, we have seen a more mature Claypool and some significant changes in the way he carries himself around his teammates. Unfortunately, the statistical production hasn't improved in the result and it has raised the question:
Is it time for the Steelers to move on from Claypool?
When it comes to physical attributes, he has everything a team can ask for. His 6'4, 238-pound build makes him one of the bigger receivers in the league, and New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick even went as far as comparing him to former Patriots Tight End Rob Gronkowski. Unfortunately, his size and athletic ability haven't correlated yet in the NFL.
I believe Pittsburgh should find a trade partner for Claypool. Although his numbers have yet to show it, he is still young and could be an extremely valuable addition to another team before the deadline. Diontae Johnson made it clear during the postgame interviews after the Week 4 matchup against the New York Jets, that this team is in a rebuilding mode. I believe Johnson is right, and the team needs to look at acquiring as many draft picks as possible for the future.
Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) and receiver Chase Claypool (11). | Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
What Would The Steelers Get In Return For Claypool?
Although it is unclear exactly what the Steelers could get in return for Claypool if they did in fact trade him away, I believe they could at least get a fourth-round pick for him. There is plenty of teams though that will be extremely aggressive once the trade deadline gets near. I believe that if they are offered a fourth-round pick before the deadline, they will then need to part ways with Claypool.
Steelers' Chase Claypool makes an incredible catch in the RedZone versus the Cincinnati Bengals / Credit: Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
Trading such a young receiver might be confusing to some, but with the team extending Johnson last off-season and Pickens quickly becoming one of the top young receivers in the league, there is not a clear long-term plan for Claypool in Pittsburgh and I believe it is best if the Steelers start to shop him before the deadline.
What do you think Pittsburgh should do with Claypool? Would you rather see him continue to play for the Steelers or get traded? Tell us what you think in the comment section below or on my Twitter @collinlschmitt.
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