No preseason could mean no playing time for Steelers rookies

The Steelers rookies on the offensive side of the ball may find playing time sparse

I assume that when the Steelers drafted Chase Claypool, WR out of Notre Dame, in the 2nd round of the 2020 NFL Draft, that we, he and the rest of his fellow draft class were under the impression that there would be preseason games in which to showcase their talents.

Since the decision has been made to cancel all preseason games, Claypool is left with having to ‘duke it out’ with veteran WRs currently on the Steelers roster.  I honestly do not see a scenario where Claypool does not make the 53-man roster. Based on his speed alone, he ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the combine, according to the official website of the NFL, Claypool will make the team.

Also based on his speed alone, Claypool had a really good chance to not only get some snaps but to quickly ascend to a starting role; that may not be the case now.  Unless Claypool learns the playbook ‘inside and out’ and develops a bond with ‘Big Ben’ Roethlisberger, he may be relegated the role of coming in off the bench if the game is well in hand.

What Claypool has going for him that our other receivers do not have going for them is height.  Listed at 6′ 4″, 238 lbs, Claypool is that ‘big body’ WR that we have lacked since the departure of Martavis Bryant.  That factor in and of itself give Claypool an edge over the rest of the rookie class.

Let’s continue by looking at the draft class on the offensive side of the ball.