Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 NFL Draft grades: Chase Claypool primes receiving corps
By John Buhler
The Pittsburgh Steelers make Chase Claypool their first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here is their overall grade for how they did in the draft this year.
First Round
The Pittsburgh Steelers did not have a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. This stems from a trade made with the Miami Dolphins for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Steelers gave up a 2021 sixth-round selection in this trade, while also receiving the No. 135 overall pick from the Dolphins, which came into Miami’s possession after the Ryan Tannehill trade with the Tennessee Titans.
Second Round
WR. Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 819. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Chase Claypool. 49. player
Another Steelers draft, another wide receiver coming off the board. No organization does a better job of drafting this position group than Pittsburgh. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the first round or on day three, the Steelers always extract talent from wide receiver draft prospects. They happened to make their first pick of the draft at No. 49 on Chase Claypool out of Notre Dame.
At 6-foot-4 and 229 pounds, Claypool has the frame to be a strong possession receiver right away. He was just that in Brian Kelly’s offense over in South Bend. The British Columbia native plays with a lunchpail mentality at the receiving position. His work ethic and physical nature as a receiver mean he’ll fight right in on this Steelers offense.
Claypool was projected to come off the board in the middle part of the second round, which is right around where the Steelers selected him. He brings big-game experience to the gridiron and might make a few big catches as a rookie to help the Steelers get back into the playoffs this fall and possibly push Pittsburgh back into the Super Bowl contender window as well.