Bouchette’s mailbag: Is Chase Claypool the Steelers’ most gifted receiver ever? (2024)

This is a Steelers Mailbag that needs no introduction, even though it’s practically book length. My longest (some say my best too) mailbag ever. No postage necessary.

Deliver it:

Could Chase Claypool possibly be the most talented Steeler you’ve ever covered from a height/weight/speed physical standpoint? I’m not sure the Steelers have ever had a player of his weight, speed, and height and you definitely can’t teach players those attributes. Of course talent is different from production and we haven’t seen him play yet but I’m just wondering what you think about him as far as physical talent is concerned in comparison to past Steeler receivers.

Kirby H.

Thanks, Kirby, that’s something I hadn’t thought about. Let’s start with John Stallworth and yes, I covered him. He was tall, right? But only 6-2 and 191, in a different era of course; Claypool is 6-4, 238 and runs faster at 4.42. We’ll skip over Weegie Thompson straight to Plaxico Burress, another tall receiver and comparable in size at 6-5, 232. But he ran 4.59 at the combine, slower than Claypool. Martavis Bryant stood 6-4, weighed 210 and ran a 4.42. So he would be the closest but Claypool has 21 pounds on him. One more: Limas Sweed. He was 6-4, 215 and ran a 4.56 at the combine. Not as big or fast. In fact, only Plaxico was taller. None weighed more and only Bryant equaled Claypool’s speed among the bigger receivers. So, I would say you are correct unless I’m forgetting someone. There were faster receivers, such as Dwight Stone (4.20) and Mike Wallace (4.33) and I’m sure others but none had the combination of Claypool’s physical stature and speed.

Why have they still done nothing to fix the lack of a decent backup behind a 38-year-old coming off of major surgery?

Charles M.

In the first of its kind in my mailbag, I’m going to let a reader respond to this one, Charles. Take it away, Greggor N.:

The Steelers are playing for the SB this year. And, as Ed has noted what seems like 1000x already, they’re clearly comfortable with Rudolph as the backup (even if you aren’t). But really, it’s a cap choice. Yeah, Cam and Jameis signed on the cheap, but it was still like $1M/ea. With only $4M in cap space, the Steelers would essentially have needed to axe their FA & trade flexibility for a backup QB. Not gonna happen in a year when they’re all-in on the SB.

Do you believe the Steelers will be cruising the waiver wire for inside linebackers, or do you believe they have enough depth at that position?

Joseph J.

It’s their thinnest position, so I would expect they might pick up someone there before all is said and done.

I’m really liking the Steelers chances of making the Super Bowl, despite the fact that the AFC has some tough competition in KC and Baltimore. Those two teams are getting a lot of attention, which is fine with me. Our D should be dominating and it’s exciting to think how the offense can look. My question is about the special teams. How would you rank them compared to other teams and where do you see the greatest improvement from last year?

Ric H.

It’s so hard to rank special teams before a season because young players dominate those positions on Mike Tomlin’s teams. Chris Boswell returned to become one of the best kickers in the league. Their punter ranks in the second half of the league. Their return game improved over the second half of last season, especially when they used Kerrith Whyte on kickoff returns and Diontae Johnson on punt returns, where he averaged 12.4 yards. Whyte may not be on the team so someone else might have to return kicks, but to me that is not a big deal because the NFL has virtually legislated the kick return out of the game. They do need someone, though, who can either let it bounce into the end zone for a touchback or return at least to the 20-25. Rick Gosselin, who has covered teams and the NFL almost as long as I have, annually ranks all the league’s special teams, based on a formula he devised. It is generally accepted as a good barometer. He ranked the Steelers at No. 9 last season. As a comparison, Baltimore ranked 27th.

The O-line palpably regressed last season; are their plans to roll with 78/71/53/66/72 or to have a short leash on them? (I do believe there is credence to Prof. Clayton’s Rule of 150)

Michael C.

Ramon Foster’s retirement reduced the average age, and it appears they will have two younger players starting with Matt Feiler, 28, at left guard and either Zach Banner, 26, or Chuks Okorafor, 23, at right tackle. The others are past 30 but not ancient in terms of offensive linemen: Al Villanueva, 31; Maurkice Pouncey, 31, and David DeCastro, 30. I’d say that is your offensive line unless there are injuries or if the two right tackles don’t do the job and they move Feiler back there and put Stefen Wisniewski, 31, at left guard.

Any undrafted talent that might make the final 53? Also any thoughts on how the Steelers will allot positions on the practice squad? We always keep RB, WR, DB, LB and a couple linemen. Due to the COVID would you hang on to extra QB, K, LS?

Nick J.

I don’t see any undrafted rookies making it this year, but some outsiders could make it like wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud and safety Curtis Riley, who joined them after camp started. The new rules regulating — or more like unregulating — the practice squad will have an effect. First, they have 16 and not 10 spots and six of those can go to players who normally would not have qualified, even a 10-year vet. I do think they might keep a fourth quarterback, although I’m not sure that will be Paxton Lynch.

Who starts opposite of TJ Watt in ’21? Dupree, Highsmith, or insert free agent name here.

Matt C.

Ideally, it would be Alex Highsmith because they’re not going to have any cap room to sign free agents in 2021, at least not any much above minimum wage. There’s also a chance that Ola Adeniyi could grab that job, or a 2021 draft pick.

Ed would you bring in the RB from JAX just released??

Tom D.

As you know by now, Tampa Bay signed Leonard Fournette, the fourth overall pick just three years ago. They tried to trade him with no takers and no one claimed him off waivers because he had a $4 million salary. The Bucs signed him to a contract that will pay him a base salary of $2 million. That’s too steep for the Steelers under the cap, for one. For another, compare James Conner’s 2018 Pro Bowl season to Fournette’s 2019 season. You say Conner is injury prone? Fournette missed half of the 2018 season with an injury.

How much influence does Matt Canada seem to have over the offense?

Noah B.

We won’t know until they start playing games and we can see it. Canada, in an interview, downplayed that influence, but some of the offensive players did not, including Ben Roethlisberger. He said you will see Canada’s influence in the run game (even though he’s the quarterbacks coach).

Is this year the last chance for a Super Bowl in the Ben era? With cap hell looming next year it sure seems that way.

Curtis S.

That will depend on Ben Roethlisberger and how well he’s still playing as they enter 2021. Yes, they will lose plenty of talent next year. Among those likely to leave as free agents are Cam Heyward, Bud Dupree, JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner, Mike Hilton, Matt Feiler and Zach Banner. I think they can overcome the losses of JuJu, Conner, Hilton, Feiler and Banner with others they have on their roster now. Heyward and Dupree are another matter. Unless they have to actually cut starters for salary cap purposes next year, they could be OK provided Roethlisberger is still playing well. Remember, too, that they will add players through the draft, perhaps another halfback who can help them quickly.

Over/under is set at 9. I’m betting the over. What do you think?

Black S.

I picked them to go 10-6.

Any chance the steelers sign any of their potential free agents?

Tony M.

I’m not betting on it.

Is Ulysses Gilbert III going to be a viable third MLB?

Evan F.

Unless they add someone, he’ll have to be. The only other alternatives are to use a safety there if necessary.

Hi Ed, who do you believe to be the person in waiting for the Steelers GM position (once Colbert decides to move on)?

Paul S.

I’ve written that Brandon Hunt would be a leading candidate, but that does not mean they won’t go outside for his successor. Kevin Colbert, by the way, would not move on to another team but into retirement.

Hi Ed, watching all the snaps every year, it feels like the Steelers are constantly penalized on special teams — mainly holding and blocks in the back. Punts and kickoffs. Are there any stats to back up that claim? If we are indeed as bad as it feels we are, any idea why? Seems like a huge liability when we have a nice run back and lose 20-40 yards because of a block in the back. Thank you, you are the best!

Anthony M.

According to NFLPenalties.com, the Steelers had 17 penalties on special teams that were accepted in 2019 (offsetting penalties were not counted). That puts them in a tie for 11th most in the NFL. But they also had seven penalties against their special teams labeled as presnap, just one penalty off the NFL lead. The one thing the chart does not include is how the penalties might have affected a play.

Has Heyward priced himself out of PIT? Also, are we never going to get big salary cap room until Big Ben leaves?

Anthony M.

The Steelers operate differently, preferring to pay their own players when their contracts come up rather than sign others. That’s where most of their cap money goes. They signed more big-name free agents in the 1990s but also lost some good players of their own because of it. But, listen, they have recently signed Steven Nelson, Eric Ebron and Joe Haden among others so it’s not like the cupboard is bare for them when it comes to signing free agents. They will have cap difficulty next year because the cap looks as though it is shrinking, not expanding as most teams count on it doing annually. Heyward plays a position that is being paid rather well right now around the league, so as an All-Pro, he’ll want to be paid the going rate. Again, the cap goes down for everyone next year, although there are a bunch of teams that will still have plenty of room. Heyward will be 32 next year, so that could come into play as well.

Hey Ed, love your articles and mailbags…thoughts on Steelers trading away 2021 first-round pick for an impact player a la Minkah this Fall considering likely exodus of veteran talent this upcoming season, limited college football season, and closing window with Ben? Where could our team use the help and do we have the cap space? Would this sit well with current established starters in the locker room? Thanks!

Pranav M.

They traded their 2020 first-round pick for a player last year for the first time in 53 years. You may have to wait another 53 for them to do so again.

Hi Ed! With training camp wrapping up at Heinz Field, what does that mean? Will they head back over to their facility which can’t have as much locker room space as they enjoy now or will that matter less with the cut-down? Just curious as to the impact of dealing with COVID-19 in the home facility. Assuming the media will still not be allowed in the facility.

Sam K.

Their plans are to practice back at the facility, mainly because they can’t keep chewing up the grass at Heinz Field. They have enough fields at their UPMC Rooney complex to spread things out but the locker room is another matter. Even with the cutdown, they’ll go from 80 players to 69, counting the 16-man practice squad. The locker room is not big enough to accommodate everyone if they are spread out. My guess is, they won’t spread out much because they’re all being tested daily and they’ll be wearing masks. The media won’t be allowed indoors at their facility — they may set up something for them to work elsewhere — but there will be some accommodation to allow some of them to watch practice. That has not been revealed yet, though.

Hi Ed, are there any injuries from camp we should be worried about?

Ryan M.

I don’t think so, although there seems to be some concern over David DeCastro missing so much time with what appears to be a muscle injury/soreness. Kevin Dotson had a knee injury that at first seemed serious but was not and he returned to practice.

Of the Steelers’ challenges in run blocking last season, how much do you attribute to the loss of Mike Munchak, who also functioned as run game coordinator?

Nanette M.

I attribute it more to the loss of Roethlisberger. Defenses stacked against the run because they did not fear the pass, and that made it more difficult to block. Veterans like the ones they have in the offensive line do not forget how to run block because a coach left, as good as Munchak is.

While Tomlin prefers to have a work horse back, isn’t this the year to change that stance and do you see any indication he will? It just seems like with Conner being injury-prone, Snell reportedly looking good in camp and McFarland being someone Matt Canada coached, it just seems like the obvious thing to do.

Mike M.

Yes, to all of that. James Conner will start and will still get the brunt of the carries, barring injury of course. But with Benny Snell, Anthony McFarland and another back like Jaylen Samuels, I do believe they will all get involved.

Who had a better training camp as a rookie: James Washington or Chase Claypool? I want to jump on the Claypool hype train, but I have been hurt before.

Mike M.

I know what you mean. I have seen receivers become Mr. Spring and Mr. Summer and then fade quicker than maple leaves in the fall once real games began. Claypool has had one good training camp, albeit a camp without a preseason game to judge him against someone other than his teammates. It’s all we have to go on now, but it’s better than him having a terrible camp.

Ed, do you think Ben would do an extension in the 2021 offseason to provide some cap relief? Any chance he would take a “hometown discount”? On a similar note, would the Steelers reverse their trend of not negotiating contracts in-season if/when they get clarity on the 2021 financial landscape? Thanks as always.

Alex S.

I do believe Ben Roethlisberger would do an extension next year and also not try to be the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. It would help their cap in 2021 because he’s due $19 million in new money next year that they could add to a signing bonus on a new contract and spread it out. However, he’ll be 39 and how long might that contract be? If it’s not long, the prorated bonus can’t be spread thin enough. No, I don’t see them abandoning their long-held philosophy of not negotiating during the season. There really would be no advantage anyway. If they want to do that, they can just sign the player after the season, before he can become a free agent in March, which they have done many times.

Do you think the NFL and the players association works out a deal to not crash the cap next year or will tons of players hit the open market.

Tony M.

That is the unknown, Tony. Some owners may actually see it as a benefit if the cap goes down and there’s a glut of free agents. The prices to sign those players will go down, saving some teams actual money. The few teams that might really care more about keeping their team together probably won’t have enough say as those who see reducing the cap based on the revenues as financial sense.

Hi Ed,

Thank you for everything you do. Who was the last Steeler long snapper who actually was a viable backup at a position? I remember a Kirk Botkin who played in the mid 90’s who was our third TE and he was around for a few seasons. Before that, I have no idea and no James Harrison does not count.

David S.

I don’t want to be flippant, David, but I never considered that. Often it seems like a tight end is one who has been an emergency guy like that but it never interested me enough to pay attention to it.

Hey Ed! Besides the one game vs the Patriots in 2018, why do you think Jaylen Samuels hasn’t been successful in the NFL?

David S.

He did not get many opportunities as a rookie in 2018 as the Steelers leaned heavily on James Conner. But as you mentioned, he did well in that game vs. New England when Conner was hurt — 142 yards rushing, a 7.5-yard average, and two receptions for 30 yards. The following week he ran 12 times for 53 yards against New Orleans for a 4.4-yard average. He finished that season with 256 yards, a 4.6-yard average and 26 receptions for 199 yards and three touchdowns. An injury hampered him somewhat last year when he rushed for 175 yards and just a 2.65-yard average. But he did catch 47 passes. In my pre-camp roster prediction, I put Kerrith Whyte on the roster over Samuels. In my latest one this week, I have Samuels making it.

Ed, how much do you think being the home/away team is going to matter this season with reduced capacity? Do things such as crowd noise and travel really affect players as much as we might think?

Eric G.

I do believe under normal circ*mstances there is an advantage to playing at home. The oddsmakers traditionally account 3 points for the home team. It will be less this year because no fans or small crowds will have little effect. But the travel for visiting teams might be more difficult because of the virus and all the precautions that must be taken.

I’ve seen writers say that Ebron is easily making catches down the middle of the field. If this is the case, do you think it is more because Ebron is that good, or because our ILBs are not getting the job done? Hearing that just makes me itchy about the middle of this defense.

Eric G.

I wouldn’t be too concerned about the defensive side of that because of how it performed in real games last season. They’ll hit an opposing receiver more than they will their teammate.

What position is most likely to be addressed after cuts? Or, do you think less movement may happen with the lack of a preseason. Sort of a dance with who brought ya thing?

Jason K.

They need backup inside linebackers.

Ben is destined to end his career as the best Steeler never to have been a 1st team All Pro… who is second in that list?

@stuart_d_young

Hines Ward would be one, Andy Russell maybe another. Depending on how you perceive kickers, Gary Anderson. One problem for quarterbacks, kickers and punters — only one of them can make first-team All-Pro, unlike other positions.

What are the rules for reporters covering the actual games?

@Patrick97008422

There will be a strict limit on the number of media who can attend, a virtual handful compared to normal times. Those reporters won’t be allowed in the locker rooms — all interviews will be done via Zoom for everyone normally credentialled whether they are in the press box or at home in their living rooms. Travel parties will be further pared. It also depends on the size of the press boxes as to how many will be in there. The Giants, for example, have a large press box that hosted a Super Bowl and more people can be spread out. The Ravens, not so large.

Is there any thought of bringing AB back into the Steelers organization? I hope not.

@IUColtfan1

None. He’s lucky if he finds any team to sign him.

Will Juju get released after this season?

@AndrewNaughton2

JuJu Smith-Schuster enters the fourth and final year of his rookie contract. If he does not sign another before next March, he will become an unrestricted free agent who can sign anywhere, including back with the Steelers.

Stephon Tuitt said he wouldn’t kneel for the anthem and we never heard the resolution on that. Does the team know what they’ll do about that?

@joeybagovdonuts

Funny how quickly things turn. Before, it was what will teams do to players who kneel, now it’s what will they do to players who don’t kneel? The answer: Nothing. Virtually everyone in charge this side of Jerry Jones have said it’s up to the individuals.

Can the Steelers ever regain the RB screen pass magic? Did it go away entirely because Ben doesn’t like to turn his back to the line of scrimmage?

@MattMackowiak

I’m not sure what the quarterback turning his back to the line of scrimmage has to do with a screen pass, but it comes down to if they want to throw screen passes and think it will help their offense, they’ll do it.

What’s the deal with the Shazier departure? Once again confusing/misleading statements from Colbert and Tomlin. Colbert says COVID restriction. Tomlin says life transition.

@mlc118

It might have something to do with both. They could have informed Ryan Shazier that because of the COVID-19 restrictions in training camp, they wouldn’t have a spot for him to help out or even watch practice. That may have prompted him to get on with his life’s work, as Tomlin alluded.

(Photo: Keith Srakocic / Associated Press)