Getty Chase Claypool celebrates a first down.
The trade deadline is five days away, and there’s been significant buzz surrounding Pittsburgh Steelers star receiver Chase Claypool.
The Steelers aren’t typically active at the trade deadline. The last time they were, it was because they got burned. In November 2021, they sent disgruntled linebacker Melvin Ingram packing to the Kansas City Chiefs. At the time of the trade, it was reported Pittsburgh would receive a sixth-round draft pick in return for Ingram. It turned out later that the pick was conditional on Ingram’s playing time in Kansas City. When all was said and done, the Steelers got absolutely nothing for the whole Ingram debacle.
Fast forward a year, and nothing legitimate has surfaced involving a trade to or from the Steelers, but the Claypool talk continues from where it was in the offseason. He was recently linked to the Green Bay Packers, who are struggling offensively without All-Pro receiver Davante Adams.
With the trade deadline looming, 93.7 The Fan’s Josh Rowntree asked Claypool his thoughts and if he pays attention to the trade rumors.
“Nah, I never talked to anyone about it,” Claypool said, seemingly annoyed with the line of questioning. “I just come here every day.”
“It’s pretty easy [to avoid the rumors]. I just don’t go on Twitter.”
Claypool likely seems bothered by the question because the rumors have simply been that — rumors. All speculation and nothing legitimate about Claypool possibly being sent to another team.
The most substantial news was from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. On October 18, Fowler opined that Claypool “makes sense” in an attempt for Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay to get their offense back on track.
“A few general managers I’ve spoken to are certain Green Bay is looking for potential receiver help on the trade market,” Fowler wrote. “One player who makes sense is Pittsburgh’s Chase Claypool, who multiple execs believe was available in the preseason, though at a hefty price.”
“The rumors of his availability have persisted for a while now, though. He’s a major talent whose production has declined in each of the past two years.”
Steelers’ Offensive Struggles Continue
Ed Bouchette, who covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since 1985 for the Post-Gazette and The Athletic, said this offense might be the worst he’s seen.
And Bouchette has good reason. According to Steelers Depot stats guru Daniel Valente, Pittsburgh’s offense is dead last or close enough in seven critical categories: Points per game (31st), yards per game (30th), yards per pass (31st), QB rating (32nd), yards per rush (28th), yards per drive (30th) and total touchdowns (31st).
There’s not a single person — media or otherwise — who believes that coordinator Matt Canada deserves more time to right the Steelers’ offensive ship.
Yet Canada has faith in his offense — at least publicly. “I’ll continue to say it, this is gonna be a tremendous offense,” he told Steelers media on October 27. “We got great talent. We gotta get balls down the field too. We gotta block a little better. We gotta get our run game. Our run game efficiency is coming, but it’s not enough, right?”
Calls for his firing have been loud and clear since Pittsburgh’s Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots, and Canada spoke about it during his press conference.
Media, including Aditi Kinkahabwala and 93.7 The Fan’s Jeff Hathhorn, speculated that the Steelers would give “serious consideration” to firing Matt Canada after the October 30 Philadelphia Eagles game. Pittsburgh has a Week 9 bye, and that’s when teams have the most time to make any significant changes.
The Eagles remain the only undefeated team in the NFL at 6-0. Their defense is second in the league in takeaways, fourth in points per game allowed (17.5) and in yards allowed per game (297.8), per ESPN.
It’ll take a miracle for Pittsburgh to pull off a win in Philly. The only good thing that can come out of their loss is that Matt Canada is shown the door, and the Steelers find a way to turn things around in the season’s second half.