The Steelers' selection of Chase Claypool makes him the third wide receiver in four years they've selected in the second round, with the exception being Diontae Johnson early in the third round last year.
But Claypool is in a different mold than the other receivers the Steelers selected in recent years. He's 6-foot-4, 228 pounds and runs a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash. Such a big body being able to move that fast makes him a big-play threat whenever he's on the field.
Those raw talents show a player on tape who bullies opponents to make splash plays, a quality Ben Roethlisberger will enjoy. Let's break it down:
Claypool was a touchdown machine in 2019, with 13 in as many games to go along with 66 catches for 1,037 yards. His size made him difficult for smaller cornerbacks to press at the line, as his big frame would be tough to offset with the average jab.
This led to a lot of cornerbacks being passive in the press against him, allowing him to pick up speed and maximize the impact of his size. This allows for him to be a huge threat outside the numbers to win vertically. Watch this play against USC last year, as he gets a good release up the sideline and wins a jump ball for a first down:
Chase Claypool - GETTY
Steelers
Breakdown: Claypool the big-play bully
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THE ASYLUM
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