After not having a pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers staff knew they had to make the most of the second day. The Steelers selected wide receiver Chase Claypool in the No. 49 overall pick and edge rusher Alex Highsmith with the No. 102 overall pick. How did they do?
Let’s talk about that.
First up we have Claypool. The Steelers haven’t looked for a big target at wide receiver since they drafted Martavis Bryant. But you have to appreciate the staff looking to give quarterback Ben Roethlisberger all the help he can as he returns from the elbow injury that robbed him of almost all of 2019.
Claypool almost looks more like a modern NFL tight end than he does wide receiver and offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner could use that to his advantage. Claypool is a tireless worker and is as happy blocking as he is running routes and making catches. If he can develop into a hybrid player in the mold of a guy like George Kittle, the Steelers will have themselves a star.
Claypool isn’t likely to start as a rookie and might have his biggest initial impact on special teams but considering JuJu Smith-Schuster is a free agent at the end of the season, he like the pick.
Grade: B
Moving on to Highsmith, this pick is something of a mixed bag. You are going to read a lot about Highsmith’s underdog story from walk on to one of the better pass rushers in all of college football in 2019. And there’s no denying Highsmith has grown quickly into a very complete edge defender.
But in terms of immediate impact, Highsmith is not quite there yet. He, like Claypool could see their first chance on special teams and as a rotational player on defense. The biggest flaw in Highsmith’s game is functional play strength and this isn’t something you fix in a single camp. Nevertheless, Highsmith’s ceiling is very high and has a chance to be a very competent starter.
