Abbotsford, BC native Chase Claypool was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Claypool immediately became an impact player on what was already a dynamic, but aging offence. The wide-receiver only needed a game and a half to make his impact, scoring an 80 yard touchdown, the first of his career in week two against the Denver Broncos.

The 6’4 pass catcher finished his rookie year with 62 receptions for 873 yards and 9 touchdowns through the air, to go along with another two touchdowns on the ground. Claypool will look to add to those numbers in year two and it might be easier than most people expect. 

(James Watt / Flickr)

Although the Steelers’ wide-receiver room is heavily occupied, a good thing when you have no running-game (which last year the Steelers did not) Claypool seemed poised to take over the top spot as the offense’s deep threat. A great position considering the addition of rookie power running back Najjee Harris. Harris will no doubt be getting a truck load of carries this coming season bringing opposing defenses’ attention to the backfield. In steps the former Notre Dame product. 

The more attention the backfield gets in the NFL the less attention goes to the deep ball. Fellow wide-outs Juju Smith-Schuster and Diante Johnson are more of “inside the numbers” route runners and pass catchers, but Claypool has the speed, size and instinct to take any play deep down the field and to the house. The question remains, who see’s the drop in targets out of the big three receivers in Pittsburgh? Smith-Schuster, while productive, has seen his share of immaturity and off the field issues on top of concerns with his ball security on the field, and Johnson at times has shown he can’t catch a ball unless you walk it over and hand it to him personally. My money for next season’s breakout player for the Steelers, goes to the promising, mind you yet to be proven, threat in Claypool. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers will open their 2021 campaign against last year’s AFC championship game contender Buffalo Bills.