Editor’s note: Leading up to a unique Pittsburgh Steelers training camp staged at Heinz Field this year, the Tribune-Review will be running through the team’s 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2020 season. The breakdown will go through the roster, in mostly alphabetical order, two per day, between June 9 and July 23, a day that was originally planned to be reporting day for players to camp. (Contract data courtesy spotrac.com)
WR CHASE CLAYPOOL
Experience: Rookie
Contract status: Has yet to sign 4-year entry contract
2020 outlook: The first second-rounder to be the Steelers highest draft pick in 53 years, Claypool has a lot going for him: elite size (6-foot-4, 238 pounds), speed (4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and college production at a big program (66 catches, 1,037 yards, 13 touchdowns as a senior at Notre Dame). He also has intangibles that the Steelers were drawn to. Claypool’s floor as a rookie is special-teams contributor.
But some draft evaluators had questions about Claypool’s quickness and overall ability to translate to the NFL. As a rookie, at least, he has a crowded position room to navigate for playing time. There seemingly is a high ceiling for Claypool’s career — one the Steelers obviously project. But if we will see it in 2020, especially, is a question.
DL JOSIAH COATNEY
Experience: Rookie
Contract status: $615,000 cap hit in 2020, signed through 2022
2020 outlook: Coatney reportedly got the largest signing bonus of any of the Steelers’ undrafted free agents (though admittedly not a king’s ransom at $15,000). He fits the profile of the big bodies the Steelers like to bring in to add depth. Coatney started 35 of the 36 games he played in the SEC after being a junior-college transfer. He played at the nose and on the ends in the Ole Miss 3-4 scheme, finishing his career with 15½ tackles for loss.
Realistically, Coatney should strive to make the practice squad as a rookie, with the goal of developing more and making the 53-man roster in the future. He could end up jockeying with seventh-rounder Carlos Davis as the rookie D-lineman most likely to carve a future niche.
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