Tag: Chase Claypool

Steelers still struggling from failed 2020 NFL draft

The Steelers were undone by a pair of missed opportunities in the 2020 NFL draft.

Be warned that I’m going to say something here that is going to ruffle the feathers of many Pittsburgh Steelers fans. And while some of this is hindsight, a lot of this could be seen coming a mile away and is now coming to fruition.

One of the biggest factors in why the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to struggle with getting over the playoff hump is because of a failed 2020 NFL draft. And when we say failed, yes we include the 2019 trade that cost the Steelers a first-round pick in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Is Fitzpatrick a great player? Yes. Has he been a great player for the entirety of his time in Pittsburgh? No. That No. 18 pick could have been used much better for a position of need.

If the Steelers don’t trade for Fitzpatrick, they keep that pick and could have used it to select a generational talent who could have really helped this team down the line.

2020 NFL redraft

First round – WR Justin Jefferson

The Steelers viewed wide receiver as a top need based on how the rest of the draft played out and Jefferson has established himself a one of the three best receivers in the league.

Second round – QB Jalen Hurts

Ben Roethlisberger is coming off an awful injury where he missed almost an entire season and could have really used a plan beyond what they had at quarterback. Hurts has quickly become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

You could leave every other pick exactly the same and this becomes the draft that turns the Steelers franchise around. Pittsburgh was already ridiculously invested in defense so this draft bringing the offense up to speed made far more sense.

So in the final analysis, the Steelers could have had Jefferson and Hurts but instead got Fitzpatrick and Claypool. Of all the questionable moves this team has made or not, none sting quite like this except for passing on Lamar Jackson for Terrell Edmunds in the 2018 NFL draft and ranks well ahead of the Steelers trading up for linebacker Devin Bush in the 2019 NFL draft.

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Steelers might be wise to skip the NFL draft for a new wide receiver

The Steelers have struggled drafting wide receivers recently.

There was a time when the Pittsburgh Steelers had built a reputation for their ability to draft wide receivers and turn them into stars. That always felt a little hyperbolic and recent history has told a very different story.

Here are the last seven wide receivers selected by the Steelers in the NFL draft.

2024 – Roman Wilson

2022 – George Pickens

2022 – Calvin Austin III

2020 – Chase Claypool

2019 – Diontae Johnson

2018 – James Washington

2017 – JuJu Smith-Schuster

That list isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of the front office’s ability to scout and select receivers who can be productive, not cause problems and actually stick with the team.

Wide receiver is the team’s top roster need going into the offseason if you exclude the quarterback position that is still up in the air. The first instinct is for the Steelers to look to the draft once again for help.

But it might be wise if the Steelers look for a player who is more established, even if it means opening up their checkbook and paying big money to a guy like Tee Higgins or Chris Godwin.

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Mike Tomlin deserves more credit for managing Diontae Johnson drama

Ex-Steelers WR Diontae Johnson’s drama highlights why Mike Tomlin deserves more credit for keeping the Steelers locker room under control.

The grass is always greener on the other side of Steel City, and without a doubt, former Steelers WR Diontae Johnson found this out the hard way in 2024—but is the receiver’s recent drama an eye-opener for critics of Steelers HC Mike Tomlin?

Tomlin may have his issues with time management and his loyalty to a subpar coaching staff, but his leadership of the Steelers locker room has never been more evident than with his handling of receiver drama over the years—and the recently waived Johnson proves it.

Johnson lasted seven games with the Carolina Panthers, four games with the Baltimore Ravens, and two games with the Houston Texans—while spending 77 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Johnson isn’t the first dramatic wide receiver to prove Tomlin’s ability to command respect and order in a locker room, as former receivers Antonio Brown and Chase Claypool both imploded after they left Coach T’s watchful eye.

Steelers WR George Pickens may have suffered a similar fate if he attempted his antics with another roster, which begs the question: should fans appreciate Tomlin’s ability to get production out of his diva-esque receivers and keep a tight lid on their boiling point?

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Steelers receive great news as Justin Fields trade conditions finalize

The Steelers’ trade for Justin Fields has officially finalized, costing Pittsburgh only a 2025 sixth-round pick in a massive steal.

Steelers fans rejoice! Omar Khan—AKA ‘the Khan Artist’—has officially outsmarted the Chicago Bears for the second time in just over two years.

While the outcome of the Chase Claypool trade was clearly one-sided in Pittsburgh’s favor, the winner of 2024’s Justin Fields trade seemed debatable.

However, as the trade became official last night, the Steelers will only need to send a 2025 sixth-round draft pick to the Bears. Fields would have needed to play in 51% of the Steelers’ snaps for the conditional sixth-round pick to escalate to a fourth-rounder—and Russell Wilson’s emergence as the Steelers’ QB in Week 7 put an end to that.

While it remains to be seen if the Steelers will re-sign Fields this upcoming 2025 offseason—and properly develop him—no one can deny that acquiring a player of his caliber for just a sixth-round draft pick is an absolute steal.

Khan has been incredible since taking over the GM role in 2022, and fans of the Black and Gold should be excited about what he has in store for 2025 offseason and NFL Draft.

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Is George Pickens positioning himself for a 2025 Steelers exit?

George Pickens’ inconsistent 2024 season raises questions about whether his play outweighs his attitude for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are no strangers to trading away dramatic wide receivers. Antonio Brown, Chase Claypool, and Diontae Johnson ultimately positioned themselves as trade casualties once their baggage outweighed their on-field production.

The question that should be on the minds of all Steelers fans is this: Is WR George Pickens setting himself up for the same fate in 2025?

Pickens has undoubtedly produced his most dramatic season yet in 2024, though it seemed as if the Steelers were initially willing to tolerate his immaturity.  His rookie contract extends only through 2025, and his inconsistency on the field this season may have the Steelers ready to move on.

From fumbling away the Colts game to practically giving up during the Hail Mary attempt against the Browns, to causing an interception by running the wrong route in Week 17, and now his Week 18 performance, which saw Pickens drop three balls and catch one pass on six targets for zero yards, it may be time to find a potential trade partner next offseason.

Will Pickens rebound in the playoffs? And if he does, will it be enough to make up for his on- and off-field drama in 2024?

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Bengals have their own WR drama ahead of Week 18 matchup vs Steelers

The Steelers face a Bengals team in Week 18 dealing with rookie WR Jermaine Burton’s latest drama, as he won’t travel with the team.

Fans of the Black and Gold have grown accustomed to wide receiver drama plaguing their beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.

From Antonio Brown to JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, and now George Pickens, the Steel City just can’t catch a break when it comes to elite wide receivers squandering their talent with bad attitudes. However, it seems their Week 18 opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals, are dealing with some WR drama of their own.

Bengals rookie wide receiver Jermaine Burton, drafted with the 80th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, entered the league with several character concerns.

Burton was previously made inactive for disciplinary reasons against the Las Vegas Raiders back in November, but it appears the rookie has yet to learn his lesson. On Friday, it was reported that he would not be traveling with the Bengals to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a “coach’s decision.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to have caught a break, as the dangerous Cincinnati Bengals offense could now have a distraction plaguing the team heading into Week 18.

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Fans react to former Steelers WR Diontae Johnson’s suspension

Fans hilariously react to Diontae Johnson’s suspension, reflecting on his struggles and Mike Tomlin’s ability to manage wide receivers.

2024 has not been kind to former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson. From being traded off two NFL teams to becoming practically nonexistent in the Ravens’ dynamic offense, and now being suspended one game for refusing to enter Baltimore’s Week 13 matchup against the Eagles, one has to wonder: is Steelers HC Mike Tomlin not getting enough credit for his handling of dramatic wide receivers?

Fans of the Black and Gold have seen their fair share of diva-esque meltdowns and dramatic moments from wide receivers like Johnson, Antonio Brown, Chase Claypool, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and George Pickens, to name a few. However, under Tomlin’s regime, neither Johnson nor any of the other receivers were ever allowed to implode to this degree.

Johnson should view this suspension as a blessing in disguise, giving him a chance to reflect on his recent behavior and return to competing for playing time on an NFL team—rather than potentially following in the footsteps of other disgruntled receivers no longer in the league.  Here are several of the best fan reactions to Johnson’s recent suspension from the Baltimore Ravens.

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Two-years ago today, Chase Claypool became Joey Porter Jr.

Today, November 1st, 2024, marks the two-year anniversary of the heist of the century: trading away Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears.

Two years ago today is a day for celebration, as not only did Pittsburgh pull off one of the greatest one-sided trades in Steelers’ history, but they secured the future of the franchise. I am, of course, referencing the Chase Claypool-Chicago Bears trade that took place on November 1st, 2022.

The Bears traded away their second-round draft pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, the 32nd overall pick, for Claypool. The stars aligned perfectly for Pittsburgh in this draft, as the Miami Dolphins were forced to surrender their first-round pick, allowing Pittsburgh to make the first selection on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Steelers would then select their current starting cornerback, Joey Porter Jr., who has thus far proved himself to be the future of the Pittsburgh secondary.

Claypool would quickly be traded off the Chicago Bears, ending up in Miami and signing with the Bills in the 2024 offseason. Claypool was once again released, while JPJ has developed into one of the league’s premier shut-down corners.

Pittsburgh fans once again hope Steelers’ GM Omar Khan pull off another blockbuster trade, just a few days away from the trade deadline in 2024.

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Bills release WR Chase Claypool with injury settlement

#Bills release WR Chase Claypool with injury settlement:

Chase Claypool’s tenure with the Buffalo Bills was already all but over… and now it is over.

According to the NFL’s Thursday transaction wire, Buffalo released Claypool from injured reserve via an injury settlement.

Earlier this week, Claypool landed on the injured reserve list due to a toe injury he sustained early on in training camp. The 26-year-old was consistently on the sidelines at workouts with training staff but never made it back on the field as a full participant despite the injury being considered “day-to-day.”

Claypool, 26, caught just eight passes for 77 yards with one touchdown in 12 games between the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins last season. He inked a one-year deal in Buffalo earlier this offseason.

After surpassing 850 receiving yards in his first two seasons, Claypool had hoped he could return to those levels in Buffalo. Instead, he’s now free to sign with any team following the settlement–Even the Bills–after a certain amount of time has passed.

Claypool had shown promise during spring practices but never returned to those levels during the summer because of his injury.

Bills Wire will continue to provide all roster updates throughout the 2024 season.

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Chase Claypool will miss this upcoming NFL season with an injury

Unfortunate news for Claypool and the Bills

It has seemed like former Notre Dame wide receiver [autotag]Chase Claypool[/autotag] had found a great situation with the Buffalo Bills.

Unfortunately for both parties, that won’t come to fruition. It was announced on Tuesday morning that Claypool was put on Injured Reserve, effectively ending his season before it even began.

It’s been a rocky transition away from the college game for the receiver, as he had a great rookie year with the Pittsburgh Steelers before everything came spiraling down. His second season was solid, although his touchdown numbers were down, but after a Claypool seemingly lost a game for the Steelers with an animated celebration, they moved on from him.

A trade to the Chicago Bears game him new life, but once again, his inability to mesh with the coaching staff saw another trade, this time to the Miami Dolphins. He didn’t stick there as Claypool signed a 1-year deal with the Bills in May, but now his next destination is up in the air.

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