Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool. Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Vikings inquired about Steelers WR Chase Claypool

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 10/30/22

Despite boasting the 10th-ranked passing offense in the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings are reportedly looking to upgrade their wide receiver room.

According to KSTP-TV’s Darren Wolfson, the Vikings are in the market for a downfield threat to stretch the field, and they’re kicking the tires on a former second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I have heard there has been chatter with Pittsburgh,” Wolfson recently said on the SNOR North podcast. “My understanding is they at least made an inquiry about (Chase) Claypool.”

Two teams have now told me the #Steelers want a second-round draft pick in return for Chase Claypool.

My sense remains that Pittsburgh would prefer to keep the talented third-year WR. We’ll see, but his upside is simply too high if I’m Omar Khan. https://t.co/nAWADiMVAT
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 28, 2022

Vikings QB Kirk Cousins has just six completions of 20 or more yards this season — tied for 24th— and Justin Jefferson has accounted for five of them.

Claypool, who has 28 receptions on 48 targets for 266 yards and a touchdown, could add an explosive element to Minnesota’s passing attack that it lacks outside of Jefferson.

Minnesota ranks just 25th in the league with 10.1 yards per reception.

Claypool has only been targeted four times on passes of 20 or more yards this season, but he had 25 such targets the previous two seasons combined. His average depth of target this season is nearly 10 yards — a full yard more than Adam Thielen, who’s average depth of target of nine yards leads the Vikings.

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