Steelers: Chase Claypool has incredibly inflated opinion of himself

Chase Claypool thinks extremely highly of himself in Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver room.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool is venturing into Russell Westbrook levels of self-awareness…

The third-year pro out of Notre Dame appeared on the latest episode of the I Am Athlete podcast. With a supreme level of confidence, Claypool told Brandon Marshall, LeSean McCoy and Adam “Pacman” Jones just how freaking awesome he is on the football field. I’m going to be real with y’all. You are going to need to grab a chair and sit down before you hear what Claypool had to say.

"“And just like you said, understanding I’m not normal — I feel that way when I’m on the field,” said Claypool on the I Am Athlete podcast. “I know for a fact I am not like the rest of the guys in the NFL. I know I’m a top-five receiver. I know I’m a top-three receiver.”"

Not only is Claypool not a top-three wide receiver in football, he is not even a top-three wide receiver in his own AFC North division. Claypool is an excellent player, but he has got a ways to go before making that audacious claim. Heck, he might not even be the best wide receiver on his own football team, as rookie George Pickens has that Dawg in him. Greg Cosell is a big fan of his, too.

Here is the entire conversation Claypool had while appearing on the I Am Athlete podcast.

Chase Claypool really thinks he is a top-three wide receiver in the NFL today

While Claypool has every right to feel this way about himself internally, it might have been a good eye to keep that comment in-house and closer to the vest. The fine folks on social media will harpoon him over it faster than you can say Hartford Whalers. Claypool is an emerging No. 1 wide receiver, but he is no white whale. As far as who the top three receivers are today, let’s discuss it.

Admittedly, a lot has changed since Julio Jones fell off a cliff physically and Antonio Brown burnt his feet in a cryogenic chamber. Candidates for top-three consideration include Davante Adams, Ja’Marr Chase, Tyreek Hill, Justin Jefferson and Cooper Kupp. There are other excellent wide receivers out there, but odds are, the favorite wideout on your NFL team is better than Claypool.

But you know what the best part of this is? Claypool has every right to go out there and proven everybody wrong. He is in the same draft class as Jefferson and got to the league a year earlier than Chase did. Hill and Kupp are more of the seasoned veteran variety, but everybody knows who the ball is going to when the Miami Dolphins and the Los Angeles Rams need a critical catch late.

If Claypool does become a top-three wide receiver in football this season, we are all eating crow.