Chase Claypool addresses expectations for 2022 season

If there is one thing Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool is not short on, it’s confidence. He is confident in himself, his team, and their capabilities. And during a recent interview on the I Am Athlete podcast, he addressed his expectations for the Steelers 2022 season and gave a bold prediction on their win total.

“I don’t think we are, I mean, we’re gonna have a rebuild year one at one point, but it’s not gonna be anytime in the next ten years… No, absolutely not,” said Claypool. “Everyone keeps saying we need a new quarterback, we need a new quarterback. We got a quarterback. We got the pieces for that quarterback, we got receivers, we got the defense. So I think we’re straight. I think we’re winning 13 (games).”

13 is a lofty goal for a win total given the division the Steelers play in, the AFC North. And one can argue that each team in the division got better over the offseason. Ravens are likely to be at full strength at the start of next season after losing MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson midway through the season and three running backs before the start of the year. The Cincinnati Bengals are fresh off a Super Bowl appearance and added some much-needed offensive line help to protect their star quarterback Joe Burrow. If the Steelers are to make good on Claypool’s claim, then they will need plenty of confidence, and it looks like their young star receiver has more than enough to share.

Claypool discusses Kenny Pickett, quarterback competition

During a recent episode of the I Am Athlete podcast, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool sat down with the cast and talked all things Steelers related. One of the main topics discussed is the Steelers quarterback situation heading into next season. And Claypool gave his take on rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett and the ongoing quarterback competition.

“He looks good. He’s mobile, fast, faster than people think,” said Claypool. “So that’s gonna be new for us and I think it’s gonna create plays. You see like so many of Ja’Marr’s (Chase) plays and Tee’s (Higgins) plays are from Joe (Burrow) leaving the pocket making plays happen. And we’re young, we’re versatile, we’re dynamic so he’s gonna add to that.”

With the stance Claypool took on Pickett, former NFL Pro-Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall wanted to know who was his favorite quarterback during offseason training camps thus far. And Claypool didn’t mince words with his answer.

“Yeah, you know I can’t answer that.”

The Steelers entered this offseason on a quest to find their next franchise quarterback after Ben Roethlisberger retired following their wild-card playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Pittsburgh brought in the former first-round pick of the Chicago Bears, Mitchell Trubisky, to compete with last year’s backup, Mason Rudolph. The Steelers went and added more fuel to the competition when they drafted Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Currently, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will be the Steelers starter come week one. But whoever is under center for Pittsburgh will have a dynamic threat on the outside in Claypool.