The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Chase Claypool, a wide receiver out of Notre Dame with their first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft Friday.
The Steelers, who traded their first-round pick to Miami last year for Minkah Fitzpatrick, chose Claypool in the second round, then took linebacker Alex Highsmith in the third round later in the evening.
Claypool is a 6–foot-4, 238 pound senior who grew up in British Columbia, Canada. His strengths include overwhelming size and length and a strong competitive nature, and he does well against physical coverage. He figures to present a large target for Steelers quarterbacks. He also blocks well and could be an asset on running plays and has excelled on special teams. A possible negative on Claypool is a lack of explosiveness after the catch.
Claypool led the FIghting Irish with 66 receptions for 1,037 yards and 13 touchdowns in the 2019 season. He caught seven passes for 146 yards and a score in Notre Dame’s appearance in the Camping World Bowl. Claypool garnered a lot of attention at the NFL Combine, running a 4.42 40-yard-dash, even though at 238 pounds. He was the heaviest at his position at the combine.
The Steelers took an offensive player with their first pick for the first time since 2012 when they took guard David DeCastro and picked a receiver with their first pick for the first time since taking Santonio Holmes in 2006.
Highsmith, an outside linebacker from Charlotte, was a fifth-year senior last year. His stock went through the roof as he racked up 14 sacks, 21.5 tackles for a loss and one forced fumble.
The draft continues today, and the Steelers have four picks ahead of them, with two picks in Round 4, and picks in Rounds Six and Seven.
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