Former NFL GM thinks Packers should target WR Chase Claypool on trade market

The Green Bay Packers need help at wide receiver, and that's putting it lightly. 

Sure, Romeo Doubs has shown flashes that he can be something and Allen Lazard is a consistent target, but Doubs is a rookie who is learning on the job and for as much as Aaron Rodgers trusts Lazard, he's a No. 2 receiver at best in most offenses.

Meanwhile, Randall Cobb, Sammy Watkins and rookie second-round pick Christian Watson are hurt, and tight end Robert Tonyan is still getting his legs under him after an ACL injury suffered last season.

Rodgers has few good options in the passing game, so it's no surprise that Green Bay's offense has struggled to put together a consistent game in their 3-3 start.

Outside of Odell Beckham Jr. joining the team as a free agent, there are few routes for general manager Brian Gutekunst to turn this thing around in the season. A trade would, of course, make sense, but the Packers are historically weary of impactful in-season trades and they also don't have a ton of money to work with. At this time, Spotrac gives them only $7.7 million in cap space to work with.

Still, former NFL general manager Rick Spielman thinks there are a few wide receivers the Packers should target by the trade deadline. One of those, Chase Claypool of the Pittsburgh Steelers, may actually be a decent option -- if the Steelers are willing to play ball, of course.

"Coming off a huge win over Tampa Bay in Week 6, Pittsburgh may be more hesitant to sell going forward. But if the deadline approaches and the losses mount for Pittsburgh, they could be a team looking to move on from a player like Claypool," Spielman wrote for the 33rd Team. "He’s another big, physical downfield receiver that can REALLY run."

Claypool was drafted in the second round of the 2020 draft by the Steelers and had a great rookie season, catching 62 passes for 873 yards and nine touchdowns. He fell off the map hard in year two, catching 59 passes for 860 yards and just two touchdowns, and so far this season he's Pittsburgh's fourth most productive wideout with 23 catches for just 225 yards and one touchdown.

Spielman is right. If the 2-4 Steelers keep losing, perhaps they'll look to offload Claypool or a pick or two. It would be a win-win if the Packers got involved. The Steelers get to continue their rebuild while the Pack get a "veteran" wideout in the room with the potential to put up big touchdown numbers in a hurry.