The Steelers did not have a pick on the first night of the 2020 NFL Draft. They had previously traded their first round pick to Miami as part of the deal for All-Pro Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Steelers made their first two selections of the draft on Friday night. Their regular third round pick had previously been traded away to Denver as part of the Devin Bush deal, but the team received a compensatory pick for losing Le’Veon Bell in free agency. In the second round with the 49th overall pick they selected Notre Dame WR Chase Claypool and in the third round with the 102nd overall pick they drafted __. Here is a look at the two newest Pittsburgh Steelers.
Chase Claypool
WR-Notre Dame
The Rundown
Claypool is an athletic freak who scored 13 TDs on 66 catches and 1037 yards this past season. He grew up in British Columbia and was a Top 20 receiver prospect out of high school. Claypool played a lot of special teams as a freshman at Notre Dame then slowly worked his way into the Irish offense. He has been a starter since his sophomore year and started 33 games over the last three seasons and had to suffer through some shaky QB play for the Irish.
With pick 49 in the 2020 NFL Draft, the #Steelers selected Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame.
He posted an elite #RAS with elite size, great speed, elite explosiveness, at the WR position.https://t.co/TwFXYcKp72#HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/YFk17x1oVv
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 25, 2020
RAS is a measure of athleticism, scored on a scale of 0-10. How elite is an RAS of 9.98? All-time, only Calvin Johnson has an RAS of 10.0. Only Matt Jones (Arkansas, 2005) and Mortiz Boehringer (Germany, 2016) scored 9.99s. Joining Claypool with RAS measurements of 9.98 are future Hall of Famer Andre Johnson (Miami, 2003) and Javon Walker (Florida State, 2002). That only three wide receivers since 1987 have been more athletic than Claypool is certainly a feather in his cap.
What to Like
Claypool’s combination of size and speed is a rare trait. He is a large man that can use his body to physically overmatch defenders. Martavis Bryant was 6’4″ 210 pounds and ran a 4.42. Claypool is the same height (6’4″) and ran the same 40 (4.42) but is 30 pounds heavier at 240. He can play on the outside and run go routes down the field, physically dominating smaller corners.
What He Needs to Improve
He needs to improve his route-running and doesn’t have a lot of lateral agility to his game. He is a big target but most of his speed is straight line speed and needs to work on carrying that speed through his breaks. Claypool ran a lot of vertical routes in Notre Dame’s offense and will likely do that in his first year with the Steelers.
How He Fits With the Steelers
One of the things the Steelers lacked in their offense was a true deep threat. Claypool provides them with deep speed and a player that can take the top off the coverage. Opposing teams won’t be able to stack the box against the Steelers and will need to respect Claypool’s deep speed. He is slightly taller, 30 pounds heaver, and runs just as fast as Martavis Bryant. He is an absolute threat in the red zone with his size and leaping abilities.
Highlights
The newest member of the wide receiver room! @ChaseClaypool pic.twitter.com/6kF4xq15LH
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 25, 2020
Alex Highsmith
EDGE-Charlotte
The Rundown
Highsmith was incredibly productive at Charlotte. He started his career as a walk-on and by the time he completed his redshirt senior season was the 49ers career sack leader. As a junior he posted 17.5 tackles for loss but only 3 sacks. He exploded his senior season with 21.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks.
With pick 102 in the 2020 NFL Draft, the #Steelers selected Alex Highsmith, DE, Charlotte.
He posted a great #RAS with poor size, good speed, great explosiveness, good agility at the DE position.https://t.co/KKO7GTL4Uh#HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/IfxQUK1BwE
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 25, 2020
What to Like
Highsmith is a high motor player that is adept at getting into the backfield and causing havoc. Having started his career as a walk-on he should be able to contribute immediately on special teams. With 39 tackles for loss and 17 sacks over the last two seasons, he knows how to get guys on the ground once he gets there.
What He Needs to Improve
Highsmith needs to weight and strength to his frame. He is a bit undersized but has the explosiveness and short-area quickness to be a pass rush specialist early in his career.
How He Fits With the Steelers
Bud Dupree signed his franchise tag and TJ Watt is in line for a mega contract. But behind them, the depth is relatively thin at outside linebacker. Anthony Chickillo was cut to save salary cap space so the only depth at outside linebacker the Steelers have are undrafted free agents Ola Adeniyi and Tuzar Skipper. Highsmith adds depth to the outside linebacker position and will have the opportunity to potentially step into a starting role in 2021 if Dupree leaves in free agency.
