Why Trading Chase Claypool Was a Smart Move

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Ryan Fiore

Lions and tigers and the Chicago Bears? Oh my. 

What a time to be a Pittsburgh sports fan, as the Penguins just lost their 6th game in a row, the Steelers sit at 2-6 as they approach their bye week, and the Pirates… Well, let’s not talk about them. 

With the trade deadline emerging, the Steelers kept themselves busy Monday afternoon as they made two important moves: trading for a cornerback and trading away one of their wide receivers. 

Wide receiver Chase Claypool was traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2023 2nd round pick just hours before the trade deadline on Nov. 1. Claypool was a 2nd round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. 

I’ve seen a lot of people express confusion and anger about the trade, my grandmother included. I think a lot of people were expecting to get “2020 Chase Claypool” back at some point. As a rookie, Chase Claypool caught 9 touchdowns and rushed for 2, culminating in 873 yards. I remember it like it was yesterday. It seemed wherever Ben Roethlisberger threw that ball, Claypool was always the one to come down with it. 

However, “2020 Chase Claypool” faded fast. During his second season with the Steelers, while putting up 860 receiving yards, he only had 2 receiving touchdowns and 0 rushing touchdowns. So far this year, Claypool had one receiving touchdown. 

I couldn’t foresee getting “2020 Chase Claypool” back unless big changes were made. Unfortunately, the Steelers are at the point where the only way big changes could be made is by acquiring early round draft picks in order to draft younger guys next season, hence the Claypool trade. I can understand the anger and confusion for the most part but the way that I see it, it gives us a chance at a decent pick in the second round of next year's draft. Seeing where we’re at right now, it’s safe to say the Steelers need to a rebuild a little bit. We need to draft offensive linemen next year and the pick we acquired from Chicago just might be used towards drafting some. 

Also, it’s not like we don’t have any talented wide receivers. We have Diontae Johnson, who, well, is outstanding when he can actually catch the ball, but we also have Steven Sims, who is a beast as the punt returner, Miles Boykin, a former Baltimore Raven who is waiting to break out, Calvin Austin lll, who ran a 4.32 40 yard dash, however will not debut this season due to injury. There's also Gunner Olszewski, who also has had some trouble catching the ball, specifically in return duties.

Okay, so maybe we have some guys who have trouble managing the ball, but you know who doesn’t have trouble catching the ball? You might be familiar with him. I call him the next Antonio Brown (minus the crazy). His name is George Pickens, the Steelers’ 2nd round pick and arguably the biggest steal of the 2022 NFL Draft. The man is an absolute beast. Got a guy defending on both sides of you? No problem. He’ll come down with it. 

So take a breath, Steelers fans. We will be okay. If you haven’t accepted it yet, the Steelers are certainly not going to the playoffs and it very well may be Coach Mike Tomlin’s first losing season since joining the team in 2007. The only thing we can do as Steelers fans, you know, besides screaming at the TV during the games, is look to next year’s season and what talent the draft will bring us. We may even end up with the first overall pick for the first time since the Steelers drafted Hall of Fame quarterback and 4x Super Bowl Champion Terry Bradshaw in 1970.

Things could get interesting.