PITTSBURGH — I have the perfect team and quarterback for Chase Claypool as the NFL’s Nov. 1 trade deadline approaches.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Kenny Pickett, respectively.
This is no time to trade Claypool. You’re breaking in a new quarterback, and one of your biggest advantages (theoretically) is having a bunch of premium athletes on the other end of his passes.
Thanks to Mike Tomlin’s sham quarterback competition — dating back to spring — Pickett has barely had any work with the frontline receivers. Tomlin was so convinced on Mitch Trubisky that Trubisky lasted all of 3 1/2 games (although he might be in line for another one if Pickett isn’t cleared to play Sunday).
Tomlin should have just given Pickett the keys to the franchise on Day 1, the way the Bengals did with Joe Burrow. Look at all the months wasted on a quarterback Tomlin obviously didn’t believe in.
Anyway, why not find out what life could be like once Pickett spends some quality time with Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Claypool and Calvin Austin III?
What a shame it would be for Pickett never to get even one game with his top four receivers available, not to mention tight end Pat Freiermuth and Najee Harris. Teams spend years trying to provide young quarterbacks with adequate weaponry. The Steelers have it.
So keep it. Use it. Design an offense around it.
Claypool’s name has appeared in trade rumors for months, and for good reasons: He has just one year left on his deal; he has been either underutilized or underachieving here, depending on one’s viewpoint; and he remains a tantalizing talent.
The latest report comes from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who links Claypool to the receiver-challenged Green Bay Packers.
“One player who makes sense is Pittsburgh’s Chase Claypool, who multiple execs believe was available in the preseason, though at a hefty price,” Fowler said. “Claypool is coming off a big seven-catch, 96-yard game, so perhaps that makes him more attractive for the Steelers to keep. The rumors of his availability have persisted for a while now. He’s a major talent whose production has declined each of the past two years.”
That last assertion needs some context. Claypool actually had more yards from scrimmage in his second season, and in one fewer game. He finished with three fewer catches and 13 fewer receiving yards, but he had more rushing yards. His touchdowns went way down (from nine to two), but his yards per reception went up. I wouldn’t say he took a giant step back. He just didn’t make any progress. And even at his worst, he still manages to make big plays.
His lowest point was the disastrous game in Minnesota (“Watch me celebrate a first down with time running out!”), but it’s also true that he remained Ben Roethlisberger’s main target as the Steelers stormed back — and he finished with nine catches for 93 yards.
The 6-foot-4, 238-pound Claypool can play outside or in the slot. He is a human mismatch. He basically disappeared from the offense by the end of Trubisky’s first run, but in the past two games, Claypool has been targeted 16 times and has 12 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown.
Would I retain him under any and all circumstances? Not necessarily. If the Chicago Bears still had interest in moving Roquan Smith, for example, all bets are off.
When healthy, the Steelers might even have too many weapons, once you add Harris out of the backfield and Freiermuth. But how often is that the case? We’re six games into the season, and the group of Johnson, Claypool, Pickens, Austin, Harris and Freiermuth have played precisely zero games together.
I’d like to see the Steelers focus on their offensive line in the draft, but the biggest question of all is whether they got the quarterback part right.
Is Pickett the guy?
The best way to find out is to let him keep all his weapons and give them some time. Yes, Claypool could be gone after next season, but one year is a lifetime in the NFL. All kinds of things can happen. An injury to Pickens or Johnson, and the Steelers will be awfully glad they kept Claypool.
I’m not sure it’s out of the question to re-sign Claypool, either, just because Johnson got a nice deal and others will soon be up. Everybody else is young. There are no monster contracts on this offense. When you don’t have to pay a quarterback, you can splurge in other areas.
Pickens and Claypool might be a bit redundant, but if you can’t find a way to use top-shelf talent like that, shame on you. When Trubisky finally decided to cut it loose to Claypool on Sunday, even in coverage, good things happened.
I want to see the Pickett Plane take off with everybody on board. I want to see this quarterback have every chance to succeed.
Claypool is going to put up big numbers somewhere. Why not here, even if for just a little while longer?
