Allen Robinson vs. Chase Claypool: Will The New Steelers' Wide Receiver Serve As An Upgrade Over The Former 2nd Round Pick?

During his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, former second-round pick, Chase Claypool, never quite proved himself to be worthy of being the team's number-one wide receiver. Last season, he was relegated to the slot after the team selected George Pickens in the second-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. As a result, he was traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for their second-round pick, which ended up being the very first pick on Day Two of the 2023 NFL Draft, a huge win for the Steelers. 

While the additional second-round pick has the opportunity to add a starting-quality player to the roster, the departure of Claypool has left a sizable need at wide receiver for the Steelers. Many believed the team would fill the void by adding a receiver with one of the team's first three picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. Steelers' General Manager, Omar Khan, had other plans by pulling off a trade for Allen Robinson, a former Chicago Bear. 

Robinson will position himself nicely in the team's wide receiver room as his versatility will make him a critical component of the offense next season. He will most likely find himself as the third wide receiver in 2023 behind Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, the same role Claypool held for part of the 2022 season before he was traded. 

Both Claypool and Robinson have similar styles of play, relying heavily on their height and strength for a majority of their targets. Both of them, at least at this point in Robinson's career, will most likely never be considered a team's best wide receiver. However, with Robinson in line to play significant snaps this season with the Steelers, the question of whether or not the team made the right call by shipping Claypool to Chicago has yet to be fully decided. 

Who Will Have A More Productive 2023? Robinson Or Claypool?

Both Robinson and Claypool will likely serve as their respective team's number three wide receivers for the 2023 season. Robinson will be behind Johnson and Pickens, and Claypool likely behind D.J. Moore and Darnell Mooney. Perhaps the biggest influence on which receiver will have a bigger 2023 deals with quarterback play. For the Steelers, Kenny Pickett may be poised for a breakout year next season as he is entering his first full offseason as the team's unquestioned starter at signal caller. During his last eight starts in 2022, Pickett lead the team to a record of 6-2 and only threw one interception. 

For the Bears, the team is led by third-year quarterback, Justin Fields. Fields is coming off a historic season rushing the ball as he finished the 2022 campaign with over 1,100 yards on the ground. However, he has yet to firmly establish himself as a consistent passer of the football, struggling with accuracy during his time in Chicago. The Bears' improved offensive firepower in 2023 will certainly help, but it has yet to be seen whether or not Fields can be trusted as the long-term answer at quarterback. Pickett, who is still far from a finished product himself, in all likelihood should be considered a more reliable passing quarterback compared to Fields going in to next season. Therefore, Robison has a slight edge in that aspect over Claypool. 

How Will Robinson Fit Within The Steelers' Offense? Claypool In The Bears Offense?

Schematically, it is difficult to project the exact role Robinson will play for the Steelers in 2023. It would make sense, at least for now, that he will play at least some of his snaps in the slot. The Steelers had virtually zero production from their slot wide receivers in 2022. However, Pickett has demonstrated comfortability with targeting tight end, Pat Freiermuth when lined up inside the numbers. Could Robinson serve as a "security blanket" of sorts for the Steelers' young QB on third downs and in the red zone? Certainly possible. As long as Robinson is willing to accept a role in the slot, he may flourish in Pittsburgh. He also has the ability to play outside the numbers which makes him one of the most versatile components of the teams' offense going in to next season. 

During his seven games with the Bears in 2022, Claypool was essentially a non-factor at wide receiver. He finished his first (partial) season in Chicago with 14 receptions for 140 yards and zero touchdowns. The team struggled with figuring out exactly how to best utilize his talents and relied heavily on their run game to help carry the offense. Claypool will almost certainly have a more prominent role within the Bears' offense in 2023, but there are questions as to how his connection with Fields will grow. Similar to Robinson, Claypool will play at least a small percentage of his snaps inside the numbers next season, which may end up working out well for him as his strength and quickness off the ball make him a matchup nightmare for nickel cornerbacks. Should he accept his role as the WR3 in Chicago, he may end up providing value to an offense that desperately needs playmakers at the wide receiver position.

Final Thoughts On Robinson And Claypool 

While it is yet to be seen the exact role each player will have for their respective team in 2023, it has become increasingly obvious that the Steelers are relying on Robinson to serve as an upgrade over Claypool next season. At 29 years old, Robinson will not most likely not be a part of the team's long-term plans at wide receiver, especially considering his sizable cap hit for the 2024 season. However, he may just be the just what the Steelers needed in terms of adding a veteran presence to the position. Robinson will have every opportunity to revitalize his career in Pittsburgh and help the Steelers' offense compete for an AFC North title in 2023. 

For Claypool, he will also have the opportunity to help restore his career in Chicago, as he is still only 24 years old. The Bears' front office obviously saw something special in him when they gave up their second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. If he can remain focused on improving his game and steer clear of any unnecessary drama, he too may help the Bears compete in 2023. Hopefully for the Steelers, next season will prove they made the correct decision by letting him walk and bringing in Robinson. 

What are yinz thoughts on Robinson vs. Claypool? Do you think the Steelers made a smart move by trading for Robinson? Let us know in the comments! 

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