Bill Belichick: Steelers WR Chase Claypool 'like covering a guy like Gronkowski'

Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool is a tantalizing talent, but is he comparable to former Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski? That seems like a huge stretch, but New England coach Bill Belichick compared him to Gronk, who retired in the offseason.

“He’s kinda always open, it’s like covering a guy like Gronkowski,” Belichick said in a Friday news conference. “No matter where you are on him, there’s a place where he can reach and get the ball that you can’t.”

A comparison to a future Pro Hall of Famer is high praise. Both are tall. Claypool is 6-foot-4 and Gronk is 6-foot-6.  Both were drafted in the second round. Both have long arms, giving them huge catch radiuses.

Claypool, who played tight end at Notre Dame, was moved to wide receiver by the Steelers. Gronkowski never had more than 50 catches in two seasons at Arizona, but the Patriots turned him into a huge weapon in the passing game. 

But the on-the-field comparisons seem to end there. Claypool flourished as a rookie, catching nine TD passes, but he had just two last season. Gronk had four 1,000-plus yards receiving seasons and caught 92 TD passes in 11 seasons.

Off the field, however, the players seem alike. Each has a fun-loving personality. Gronkowski received criticism for partying shirtless after the Patriots lost Super Bowl XLVI to the Giants. Claypool has received scrutiny for immature behavior, especially in a game last season against the Vikings.

“We’re going to push (Claypool’s) growth and development,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in December, 

The Patriots harnessed Gronkowski's talents and won Super Bowls. Can the Steelers harness Claypool's?