6 Steelers who have flashed the potential to be elite
By Andrew Falce
Steelers Chase Claypool
One of the biggest surprises from last year, Chase Claypool has all the traits to be a top receiver in this league. He has incredible size and amazing athleticism, which has already turned him into a good deep threat. He needs to continue to develop his all-around game if he wants to take that next step though. By all accounts, he is a hard worker, so it should be expected that he makes the necessary improvements.
With JuJu Smith-Schuster officially done for the season, Claypool has a chance to show off more versatility in the slot. While at his best making physical catches deep, he can show off some more refined route running and position diversity if he is used more in the slot. This will further sharpen his non-deep route skills and will make him a more complete receiver.
The only reason Claypool isn’t higher on this list is that his jump from his rookie season to 2021 hasn’t been immense. Sure, he has looked better than he did a year ago, but it hasn’t been an astronomical jump like some sophomores do. If he can show a lot more diversity out of the slot, that will change by the season’s end. Assuming he makes the necessary developments, Claypool has the potential to be one of the best receivers in the league.