It is currently being recognized as a steal. The Pittsburgh Steelers traded wide receiver, Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears for the organization's first second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. After selecting Claypool in the second round back in 2020, he burst onto the scene with 11 total touchdowns in his first season. Unfortunately, he never lived up to the hype after that and seemed to be more of a distraction rather than a weapon catching the ball. The franchise drafted electrifying wide receiver, George Pickens in 2022, and that led to the breakup with Claypool.
Steelers former wide receiver Chase Claypool (#11) set an NFL record during his first season by becoming the first rookie to catch three touchdowns and run for another in a single game. | Don Wright / AP
The Athletic Believes Steelers Drafted Elite Talent Early In 2020
Claypool was Pittsburgh's first selection in the 2020 NFL Draft because the franchise traded away their first-round pick in order to acquire Minkah Fitzpatrick in 2019. After one year in the NFL, it seemed as if Claypool would be a stud, but fast forward three years later and it is his draft-mate, Alex Highsmith who has a chance to cash in due to his recent play.
The Steelers snagged Highsmith in the third round and he finished 2023 with a career-high 14.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. Even in TJ Watt's absence, the edge rusher stepped up in a big way.
The Athletic took a look back at the 2020 draft to do it over and Pittsburgh's top two picks both ended up being selected in the first round. Highsmith went at #20 to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"Highsmith is a high-motor edge rusher with power and a proven pass-rush repertoire to affect the quarterback. He had a breakout 2022 season (14.5 sacks) and showed that he can thrive independent of TJ Watt."
Steelers linebackers T.J. Watt (#90) and Alex Highsmith (#56) run a drill during 2022 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Highsmith makes sense. He has turned into a stud pass rusher who is deserving of another contract and it should be given to him by the franchise that drafted him. The Athletic hits the nail on the head, touching on the fact that Highsmith had his best year as a pro with Watt on the sideline for the majority of the season.
The interesting and questionable part comes when Claypool also ends up in the first round, despite his clear decline in both his second and third seasons. The only argument to be made is that the Green Bay Packers should have ignored a quarterback in 2020 and grabbed Aaron Rodgers another weapon. Writer Diante Lee goes back to the future and buys into Claypool wearing a cheesehead.
"Claypool would fit the mold of a Green Bay wide receiver, big-bodied and athletic. I’ve been underwhelmed by Claypool’s production in the NFL and keep hoping he’ll play more like the bully receiver his size suggests, but giving Aaron Rodgers another option opposite of Davante Adams (instead of an heir apparent) would be fun for a QB fresh off winning MVP."
Photo Credit: Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
There's no doubt both players are talented and Highsmith certainly deserves a first-round consideration when looking back to 2020. It is, however, hard to project that Highsmith would be where he is without Watt, and on Claypool's end, he simply hasn't been good since his rookie season.
At the end of the day, Highsmith was a home run for the Steelers. And, who knows? Maybe Claypool will be too if the 32nd overall pick in April's draft is a franchise difference-maker.
Do you agree with The Athletic's redraft when it comes to Pittsburgh's selections? Let us know in the comments below!
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