Steelers' Claypool confident ahead of Year 3: 'I'm a top-3 receiver'
Wide receiver Chase Claypool is entering his third season with the Pittsburgh Steelers feeling confident about his career progression and standing among his peers.
"I know for a fact I am not like the rest of the guys in the NFL," he said on the "I Am Athlete" podcast. "I know I'm a top-five receiver. I know I'm a top-three receiver."
Claypool, who turns 24 in July, believes the Steelers will improve upon last season's 9-7-1 mark and win 13 games next season.
He posted 59 receptions for 860 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games last season, a decrease from the 62 receptions for 873 yards and 11 total touchdowns in his rookie campaign.
However, the 2020 second-round pick said he was a better player in 2021 than he was in his rookie year and has a better understanding of his overall responsibilities.
Pittsburgh is expecting Claypool to fill a bigger role following the departures of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Ray-Ray McCloud during free agency. The third-year wideout is aiming to be more versatile within the offense, lining up at both slot and outside the numbers next season.
It's still unclear who'll be throwing him the ball next season. The Steelers are set to hold a quarterback competition entering training camp between Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, and Kenny Pickett to determine Ben Roethlisberger's successor.
The Canadian pass-catcher is among those convinced the Steelers have more than an adequate foundation despite the looming question of who'll start under center.
"We're going to have a rebuild at one point, but it's not going to be any time in the next 10 years."