5 Receiving Touchdowns
Some teams considered working Claypool out as a tight end at the combine, but his 4.42 40-yard dash made it clear the Notre Dame product should play wide receiver. However, it’s understandable why some teams wanted the 6-4, 238-pound rookie to work out as a tight end. He’s got incredible size, which should come into play when the Steelers reach the red zone.
Pittsburgh also recently added Eric Ebron, a 6-4, 253-pound tight end, in free agency. Ebron torched defenses for 16 touchdowns over the past two seasons, and he could take the majority of Pittsburgh’s red zone targets. However, Claypool should also get some 50-50 balls thrown his way.
Smith-Schuster scored seven times in his rookie season, while Johnson reached the end zone five times in 2019. Even as young players, Pittsburgh’s wide receivers can expect a fair share of opportunities to prove their worth. As the team’s top draft pick this year, Claypool should start seeing more chances at making big players by Week 6.
In college, Claypool didn’t make a large impact until his senior season. The Notre Dame product eventually became his team’s best receiving threat. Claypool finished the year with 13 receiving touchdowns, which more than doubled the player in second place. Hopefully, Claypool can bring that success to the NFL level.