NFL insider: Steelers seeking early-round draft pick compensation for Chase Claypool trade

While it would be a departure from the general win-at-all-costs ethos that head coach Mike Tomlin has instilled, the Pittsburgh Steelers could be sellers prior to the trade deadline on Nov. 1. But a fire sale is not in the cards, as the team is seeking some high-level compensation for wide receiver Chase Claypool, according to one NFL insider.

Jordan Schultz of The Score reported that Pittsburgh is asking for a second-round draft pick as compensation in a Claypool trade. Schultz added that the Steelers, generally, would like to keep Claypool.

Schulz quoted an anonymous NFL general manager saying that the Steelers are “not going to trade him just for the sake of it. He’s a talented guy. They’d have to get back something pretty sweet.”

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A second-round pick in the draft would be a pretty sweet return on a deal for the third-year wideout out of Notre Dame. Just earlier this week, the Kansas City Chiefs forked over a third-round pick to the New York Giants to acquire wide receiver Kadarius Toney — admittedly a less proven player than Claypool.

Claypool is tied with tight end Pat Freiermuth with 28 receptions, good for a second-place tie on the Steelers behind Diontae Johnson. Claypool has 266 receiving yards and a touchdown and has also gotten eight rushing attempts in seven games. He’s a significant changeup from the short-area prowess of Johnson and Freiemuth’s bruising game, though the emergence of rookie George Pickens as a potential bona fide outside receiver could have the Steelers and general manager Omar Khan feeling ready to pull the trigger on a trade.

Given the asking price and how they emphasize being competitive week in and week out in Pittsburgh, it wouldn’t be a shock for the Steelers to hang on to Claypool (and others) through the trade deadline.

But if a wide receiver-needy team offers up the right price, the Steelers do seem to be listening.