Chase Claypool is becoming a star for the Steelers

The Steelers have a strong track record of drafting wide receivers and developing them into stars. Chase Claypool is building on that tradition.

Ben Roethlisberger’s healthy return to the field has powered the Steelers offense to an undefeated start to the season. The emergence of Chase Claypool as a star wide receiver might be the development that helps Pittsburgh remain in the company of elite NFL teams as the regular season progresses.

The former Notre Dame star is already looking to be one of the biggest steals from the 2020 NFL Draft. The Steelers scooped him up with the No. 49 overall pick in Round 2. Early in his professional career, he looks like an offensive weapon that deserved to be selected much earlier.

Claypool was arguably the best player on the field for the Steelers’ Week 5 encounter with the Eagles. He showcased a wide range of his abilities to score three times through three quarters against Philadelphia. He opened his team’s scoring with a two-yard rush for a touchdown and then backed it up with receptions from 32 and five yards out as the game progressed.

His combination of exceptional size and above-average speed makes him a nightmare for opposing defensive backs to handle. Some scouts questioned whether or not Claypool was quick enough to thrive outside as a wide receiver at the NFL level.

The Steelers coaching staff has no such reservations. They’ve used Claypool as a down the field threat and also as a quick-strike player on the perimeter to begin his career.

Clayool’s development as a difference-maker has serious ramifications for the Steelers offense moving forward. His ability to take pressure off JuJu Smith-Schuster in the vertical passing game is vital to Pittsburgh’s hopes of forming an elite offense. His ability to make plays in the slot also opens up room for tight end Eric Ebron to produce chunk plays down the seam.

The Steelers front office deserves a ton of credit for gambling on Claypool in a draft that was stocked full of well-regarded wide receiver prospects. He may not deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as guys like Henry Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy, and CeeDee Lamb, but the Steelers have a budding star on their hands. He may ultimately prove to be a more valuable draft pick than any other receiver in his draft class.