Steelers Asking for McCaffrey-Like Return to Trade Chase Claypool

The Pittsburgh Steelers would need a massive return in order to trade wide receiver Chase Claypool, according to a report by Sports Illustrated, that was largely substantiated by Steelers Now.

Claypool has repeatedly been connected to the Green Bay Packers in trade rumors. Sports Illustrated reported on Friday that Steelers would be looking at a return on par with what the Carolina Panthers got for star running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey, traded this week from Carolina to San Francisco, brought back a second, third and fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and a fifth-round 2024 pick.

SI’s Doug Huber wrote that a trade of Claypool from the Steelers to the Green Bay Packers could involve multiple second-round picks, a third and a fifth.

Steelers Now was able to confirm through a league source that such a trade would be in the range of what the Steelers would need to move on from Claypool, who was the team’s second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Steelers hold Claypool in high regard for his productivity. Through 37 career games, he has 1,958 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has also helped fill a critical role in the slot this season following the departure of JuJu Smith-Schuster via free agency. 

Claypool is under contract at a very reasonable rate through the end of the 2023 season, and if he leaves Pittsburgh though free agency after that, the Steelers would likely be eligible to recoup a compensatory draft pick to make up for his departure.

The Packers are up against the salary cap, and so a player on a rookie contract like Claypool is one of their only recourses when it comes to adding a wide receiver for Aaron Rodgers. New England Patriots receiver Nelson Algholor and New York Jets second-year wide out Elijah Moore have also been speculated as potential Packers targets.

RELATED: Saunders: Trading Chase Claypool Doesn’t Make Much Sense for Steelers

Saunders: Trading Chase Claypool Doesn’t Make Much Sense for Steelers