After being the center of trade rumors, Chase Claypool was actually shipped away prior to Tuesday's NFL trade deadline.
The Steelers traded Claypool to the Bears in exchange for a 2023 second-round pick. The pick acquired was Chicago's pick in the second-round, not the pick Chicago acquired when they traded Roquan Smith to the Ravens on Monday.
Through eight games this season, Claypool has caught 32 passes for 311 yards and a touchdown. That lone score was the first made by a Steelers receiver this season, which didn't come until Week 6. He also recorded his first career passing touchdown during this past Sunday's loss at Philadelphia.
Claypool, a second-round pick himself, broke out with Pittsburgh as a rookie in 2020 with 62 receptions for 873 yards, scoring 11 total touchdowns (nine receiving, two rushing). While he put up similar receiving numbers in his second season, he only found the end zone two times in 2021.
The Steelers had hoped to get more production out of the third-year wideout, moving him to the slot to create mismatches with his size, speed and strength. However, production is down across the board on the Steelers' offense, which has been the catalyst for the 2-6 start to the season.
Pittsburgh seldom makes moves to qualify as "sellers" at the trade deadline, which explains why the price tag for Claypool was so high. Our Matt Williamson said in last week's War Room that it would take a second-round pick in order for a suitor to pry Claypool away from the Steelers. With the Bears at 3-5, this pick acquired by the Steelers could put them in prime position to add some significant talent in next spring's NFL Draft.
Now with Claypool gone, the Steelers will have more to figure out during their bye week. Diontae Johnson and George Pickens will surely attract more attention from opposing defenses. However, Steven Sims took a step forward in his role with the offense at Philadelphia, so he could continue to become even more involved with Claypool now in Chicago.
As shocking as the Claypool trade may be, the Steelers are also finalizing a trade to acquire William Jackson III from the Commanders. The deal also involves a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick in exchange for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick.
The Steelers' secondary has been ravaged with injuries this season, so the acquisition of Jackson will certainly address those needs. Jackson was a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Many Steelers fans wanted Pittsburgh to select him in the first round, but the Bengals ended up taking Jackson 24th overall -- just one pick ahead of Pittsburgh. The Steelers followed by selecting Artie Burns, which did not work out at all.
Jackson spent five years with the Bengals before signing a three-year, $40.5-million contract with the Commanders. He's recently wanted out of Washington, and the team was reportedly considering cutting him if they couldn't find a suitor by Tuesday's trade deadline at 4:00 p.m. Releasing him would have cost the Commanders $9 million in dead money.
Jackson has been dealing with back issues in recent weeks. He last played in Week 5 against the Titans. He's recorded 16 tackles and two passes defended in four games this season. He had 39 tackles and two interceptions with Washington in 2021. He's also been in decline since a standout rookie year in Cincinnati.
Even so, he adds much needed depth to a secondary that was just torched by the Eagles. It's also a low-risk move for the Steelers. They'll only pay $3.1 million for Jackson this season, then hold a $12.75-million option, of sorts, for 2023. They'll have to decide whether or not to keep him by March 17 next year, when Jackson is owed a $2.5-million bonus.
