The Pittsburgh Steelers currently hold the No. 33 overall pick thanks to their trade of wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears at the trade deadline.
That’s a deal that has looked good so far for the Steelers. Pittsburgh is 5-2 since trading away Claypool for the Bears’ second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. In five games with Chicago, he’s caught just 12 passes for 111 yards and no touchdowns.
Perhaps most impactfully, the Bears were 3-5 when the trade happened, certainly out of the playoff picture, but roughly in the middle of the pack of teams on the outside looking in. With Claypool, the Bears have lost seven straight games and are now behind only the 2-12-1 Houston Texans when it comes to chasing the top overall pick in the draft.
That high pick in the first pick means a high pick in the second round, so the pick the Steelers got for Claypool has risen up from the middle of the second round to No. 33 overall since they got it. Every pick in the second round has been bumped up one slot due to the Miami Dolphins forfeiting their first-round draft pick.
While the trade has looked good to Steelers fans, those supporting Chicago certainly now have their doubts about the move to add Claypool to an obviously deficient wide receivers room, given the trajectory of the rest of the team.
Claypool, though, is confident that the trade will end up looking like a good one for the Bears.
‘’I can see why they would (be frustrated). We traded away a top second-round pick, very valuable. I smile because I know it was a great trade for the organization,” Claypool said on Friday. “Right now, however that may look, I don’t want to get roasted for saying something too soon, like I have before. But I’m very confident the fans, the organization, the team will be happy.’’
Claypool is under contract with the Bears for the 2023 season, and he said with a full offseason under his belt in the new offseason and getting adjusted to quarterback Justin Fields, he’ll be able to make a bigger impact next season.
‘‘This offseason might be my biggest offseason yet. I’m real excited,” Claypool said. “I’m going to get with Justin and the receivers in the offseason, and we’re going to start building this,’’ he said. ‘‘Not only this season but in the offseason. I’ll be really excited for next season. …
‘‘I hope people haven’t counted me out yet. I’ve got a lot to bring to the table.’’
Claypool hasn’t played since Dec. 4 after suffering an ankle injury. Head coach Matt Eberflus said that Claypool is questionable to play this week.
RELATED: Chase Claypool says he felt lost in Steelers offense.