Steelers rookie Chase Claypool catches eye of veteran CB Joe Haden

Cameras caught footage of Chase Claypool leaping high in the air Monday, using every inch of his 6-foot-4 frame to snag a Ben Roethlisberger fade pass in the left corner of the end zone at Heinz Field.

What Claypool did a few moments later in the other corner while the cameras were turned off was even more impressive.

The Pittsburgh Steelers second-round draft pick from Notre Dame had a defender in his face on this pass play. And not just any defender — cornerback Joe Haden, who earned his third trip to the Pro Bowl in 2019.

Haden was tasked with stopping the back-shoulder fade. He thought he was in perfect position.

“I was underneath,” Haden said. “I tried to play the hands. He kept it in his hands, and he didn’t let me knock it out.”

He’s going to be a PROBLEM! You heard it first from me! https://t.co/7mzTAeiy7J

— Joe Haden (@joehaden23) August 17, 2020

The result was a juggling completion for Claypool on the first set of “Seven Shots” 2-point simulation plays the Steelers run at the beginning of practice.

Haden was impressed enough to retweet footage of Claypool’s earlier uncontested catch and write: “He’s going to be a PROBLEM! You heard it first from me!”

The Steelers drafted Claypool in an effort to give Roethlisberger a tall receiving threat, a player who could go up and bring down passes in the red zone, a deficiency for the Steelers in 2019 while their franchise quarterback was sidelined with a right elbow injury.

So far, so good.

“It wasn’t even just that play,” Haden said. “He’s had a couple plays against me this camp. I’ve lined up against him often. He’s a big, fast receiver who’s able to adjust to the ball in the air. He hasn’t shown me anything too bad. … As long as he keeps healthy, I think he’s going to be a problem.”

With the coronavirus pandemic wiping out all on-field workouts in the offseason and training camp being truncated without any preseason games, rookies will be challenged to make an impact for teams this season.

Haden believes Claypool can be an exception.

“He’s impressed me, for sure,” he said. “Just his size, his speed, his ability to adjust to the ball in the air. He doesn’t really say too much. He’s just out there every day working hard, asking questions of the offense, getting the routes.

“I think he’s a great young talent, and his work ethic shows he wants to be great.”

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