Steelers trade demands for Chase Claypool are way too high

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool has been mentioned in trade rumors of late, but the organization’s ask may be too great for any potential suitor.

The Steelers are willing to trade Chase Claypool for the right asking price. A recent surge in production is sure to help that asking price, which as of right now is reportedly a second-round draft pick, per Jordan Schultz on The Score.

Given that asking price, Pittsburgh general manager Omar Khan has moved his chips to the center of the table. The Steelers don’t mind keeping Claypool, a player who has meshed well with rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett in recent weeks. Claypool was a second-round pick himself.

Pittsburgh can turn out freshly-selected wide receivers in every draft class, if necessary. They have an eye for it, especially in that second-to-third round outlook.

Could the Steelers get a second-round pick for Chase Claypool?

Looking at some of the returns around the NFL for wide receivers, Pittsburgh’s demands are a little high. Claypool has the talent of a No. 1 wide receiver, but has yet to perform with that kind of consistency. As recently as three weeks ago, Claypool was in the trenches in the Pittsburgh sports media landscape.

Suddenly, he’s worth a second-round pick?

It’s right of the Steelers to aim high, but the closer we get to the deadline, Khan’s demands should fall unless Pittsburgh never had any intention of trading Claypool in the first place.

For his part, Claypool talks like a man who is staying put. After the Steelers’ Sunday night loss to the Dolphins, the Notre Dame product discussed what needed to change for the offense to succeed.

“I just think we need more go balls,” Claypool said. “Like, damn, not enough go balls. We got playmakers. I haven’t had a go ball all year. George [Pickens] needs more, [Diontae Johnson] needs more. I’m not saying that’s on the play-calling, I’m just saying we need to try to find a way to scheme it up.”

Technically that’s true, and it’s a harsh reality for a Pittsburgh offense that can’t get much worse.