Chase Claypool and the Pittsburgh Steelers offense is going to look a lot different in 2022 than it has in recent years. The team said goodbye to long-time starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger this offseason, as he rode off into retirement. Could Claypool end up getting shockingly traded this offseason, perhaps to the Green Bay Packers?
JuJu Smith-Schuster, who spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Steelers, also departed, signing with the Kansas City Chiefs. Depth piece James Washington also left in free agency, joining the Dallas Cowboys.
Mitchell Trubisky is likely taking over as the starting quarterback with Mason Rudolph as his backup. Pittsburgh still has plenty of weapons to get the job done offensively with Najee Harris at running back, Pat Freiermuth at tight end and Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool at wide receiver.
But, there is a chance that changes heading into the summer. Teams were making calls to the Steelers about Claypool earlier in the offseason. He has two years remaining on his rookie contract and there have been some ups and downs throughout the first two seasons of his career.
It would be surprising to see the Steelers move on from him, as they are relatively thin at the wide receiver position. But, if they were presented with a trade offer such as this one from the Green Bay Packers, it would be tough to turn it down.
Desperate to add some talent to their wide receiver room, the Packers trade one of their second-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, No. 53 overall from the Las Vegas Raiders, along with a future third-round pick to Pittsburgh in exchange for Claypool.
Claypool has immense talent, but some character issues seem to be holding him back. As former Steeler Ryan Clark put it, Claypool is as emotionally and mentally underdeveloped as he is overdeveloped physically.
If the Steelers agree with their former safety, they would take that deal and run. The Packers would be hoping they can strike gold and that a change of scenery may get Claypool back on track.
Pittsburgh has worked wonders finding wide receiver talent in the middle rounds of the draft and would be looking to do so again after this trade. However, they would also have a little more ammunition to move up the draft board should there be a quarterback they want to target.
