The Pittsburgh Steelers selected wide receiver Chase Claypool out of Notre Dame in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 49th overall.
Claypool possesses a rare combination of size and speed, as he's the only wideout over 230 pounds to break 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash since Calvin Johnson in 2007.
The rookie will join a receiving group led by JuJu Smith-Schuster and sophomore Diontae Johnson. Ben Roethlisberger also has the tight end duo of Eric Ebron and Vance McDonald at his disposal as he returns from a season-ending elbow injury.
Prospect Profile
School: Notre Dame
Height: 6-4
Weight: 238 lbs
Positives
- Outstanding blend of size, strength, and speed
- Good use of hands to beat the press at the line
- Plays through contact and establishes position with his strength
- Wins over his defender with hops and strong hands at the catch point
- Good balance and body control to adjust to the ball in mid-air
- Physical runner after the catch
- Effective run-blocker on the outside
- Productive special teams gunner
Negatives
- Takes time to get up to full speed
- Not gifted with lateral movement skills
- Doesn't run precise routes
- Route tree could be limited to vertical breakers
- Will struggle to separate at the short and intermediate levels
- One year of high-level production
Bottom Line
Claypool was one of the biggest stories of this year's combine. His 4.42 40-yard dash time, when adjusted for weight, is on par with the top burners in this class. Pair that kind of rare athleticism with his strength and well-established ability to dominate opposing cornerbacks in contested catch situations, and you've got as much upside as you could possibly ask for from a likely mid-round pick. Claypool will come with limitations - most notably, a lack of lateral agility will limit his route tree - but he has the potential to be a game-changer if a team can consistently put him in a position to do what he does best - make big plays down the sideline.