The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Chase Claypool in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Here’s how the rookie receiver is already exceeding expectations.
It’s hard to make the claim that a rookie player who didn’t even get the opportunity to play in a preseason game this year has exceeded early expectations. However, that’s exactly what Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver, Chase Claypool, has done.
Despite being just the 11th wide receiver drafted this past April, he’s drawing more buzz than nearly all of the big names taken ahead of him. Pittsburgh media has taken notice. Here are some of their recent Twitter reactions to the latest on Claypool:
OC Randy Fichtner on Chase Claypool: He hasn't missed a snap...he's in great physical condition...he's intelligent....and that relationship between Chase and Ben is starting to really grow.
— Missi Matthews (@missi_matthews) August 27, 2020
Randy added Claypool is following the "work, work, work, and shut-up" plan.
Roethlisberger says he avoids talking up rookies so they can catch teams by surprise, but on Chase Claypool: "It doesn't look like he'll be able to sneak up on anybody now."
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) August 27, 2020
Roethlisberger said Chase Claypool isn't going to be able to sneak up on anyone. "He's just making plays. The plays he is making are impressive." #Steelers #dkps
— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) August 27, 2020
When you can trade away your No. 1 pick for @minkfitz_21 and still get a player like @ChaseClaypool in the second round, who is getting rave reviews in training camp, you definitely hit the jackpot.
— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) August 27, 2020
These examples are hardly the only praise Claypool has received this training camp. Mark Kaboly of The Athletic recently said that Claypool is “making non-rookie-like plays after running non-rookie-like routes and making non-rookie-like catches.” If that wasn’t enough, coaches, players, and front office staff have recently handed out praise to the rookie wide receiver – Joe Haden and Kevin Colbert sharing some of the most recent remarks.
But is it fair to already say that the Steelers ‘hit the jackpot’ with a second-round draft choice who has yet to suit up for any regular-season action? Most who have been following the Steelers closely this offseason believe so.
While Claypool may have been the 11th receiver taken in the draft this spring, there is plenty of reason to believe he could outperform expectations. You already know that Claypool has an unmatched size and athletic traits for the position, and his ability to run a 4.42 40-yard dash at 6’4” and 238 pounds puts him in very rare company.
However, it’s not just these traits that are earning him consistent praise in training camp practices. Claypool has also been commended for his intelligence and his impressive ability to run routes by Steelers general manager, Kevin Colbert, in a recent press conference.
Most didn’t think that Claypool was a particularly great value pick back in April – especially considering the fact that 10 other receivers were drafted before him in the first 48 picks. However, hearing so many positive things about the young wide receiver from so many different sources around the organization is more than encouraging.