Steelers’ Chase Claypool declares himself a ‘top-three’ NFL receiver

Chase Claypool has large expectations for this third NFL season.

How large? The Steelers wideout is predicting 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022 on the heels of a season that noticed him haul in 59 catches for 860 yards and a pair of scores.

“I’m going to say, my second 12 months, I used to be a greater participant than I used to be my first 12 months,” Claypool mentioned on the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast this week. “The performs simply didn’t work out, proper? Among the performs simply didn’t go my manner. I didn’t make some performs I must make. However as a soccer participant, understanding the sport, realizing what to do, realizing the place to be, I used to be higher. So I’m going to be higher this 12 months.

“And similar to you mentioned, understanding I’m not regular — I really feel that manner once I’m on the sphere. I do know for a truth I'm not like the remainder of the blokes within the NFL. I do know I’m a top-five receiver. I do know I’m a top-three receiver.”

That ought to come as a reduction to whomever finally ends up taking the first-team snaps in Pittsburgh this season. Ben Roethlisberger retired, leaving a three-man competitors to see who will substitute him below middle.

Chase Claypool has large predictions after a middling second NFL season.

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Mitchell Trubisky seems to be the frontrunner to information the offense this season, although the staff is giving first-round decide Kenny Pickett and longtime Large Ben backup Mason Rudolph an opportunity to be the first-string QB.

Having Claypool, at present No. 2 on the Steelers’ receiving depth chart behind Diontae Johnson — with rookie George Pickens threatening to steal some consideration — ought to ease the burden for whomever the brand new high arm is.

If Claypool’s large predictions come true, it’ll actually be a boon to his new QB — and the 23-year-old is actually placing within the work to make it occur.

“After I’m working, I’m like, ‘I’m a canine.’ I’m gonna canine individuals which can be lining up throughout from me, too,” Claypool mentioned. “And I’ve simply acquired to convey that confidence and I’ve acquired to convey that spirit and I’ve simply acquired to indicate individuals. And it’s going to occur. And we’re going to rewind this and we’re going to see this clip in just a little bit and so they’re going to be like, ‘Rattling, he was proper.'”