Steelers trade Chase Claypool, acquire William Jackson as Omar Khan bucks trend (2024)

PITTSBURGH — It’s been only six months since Omar Khan took over the Steelers’ general manager position, and one thing has become crystal clear: He approaches his job in a totally different way than previous general manager Kevin Colbert.

Colbert was as reserved as they come. Khan has proven not to be hesitant to take chances.

Whether that will be what the Steelers need to kickstart their rebuild is yet to be known. But Tuesday’s trade deadline was a clear indication that Khan is going about his job differently than Colbert.

Omar Khan isn't messing around

— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) November 1, 2022

Trading wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Bears and trading for Washington cornerback William Jackson III within a span of 30 minutes on Tuesday hammered that notion home, and then some. (Both trades won’t become official until the player passes a physical.)

Especially when you consider that the Steelers made one deadline-day trade (Melvin Ingram to the Chiefs last year) in the history of their organization before Tuesday, and that came under unusual circumstances, Khan’s way surely isn’t a replica of how Colbert approached his job.

It’s a change of philosophy that has surprised many. Owner Art Rooney II and Mike Tomlin both signed off on the trade, but it was Khan who did the heavy lifting.

The Steelers have been conservative by nature in assembling their team in the past, operating with set rules. When Khan was hired in May, he vowed to follow the Steeler way, but that was before they started the season 2-6 and were staring their first losing season since 2003 in the face.

With so many holes on Pittsburgh’s roster and the luxury of depth at receiver, the second-round pick that the Steelers got for Claypool is significant. With it being the Bears’ pick in the second round, that draft choice could very well end up being in the top 40 of the draft. That would give the Steelers three selections within the first 40-45 picks in the 2023 draft if everything remains status quo.

We have acquired the Chicago Bears’ original 2023 second-round pick for WR Chase Claypool and acquired CB William Jackson III and a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick from the Washington Commanders for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick. @BordasLaw

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 1, 2022

Still, moving on from Claypool wasn’t easy.

News broke of the trade while the locker room was still open Tuesday. Claypool spoke to the media and then was summoned to Khan’s office. Some players were told about the trade, while others found out on social media. George Pickens, as well as a couple of other players, seemed in shock when they found out the news.

A team official who was not authorized to speak publicly confirmed to The Athletic that there was at least one other team that was interested in Claypool.

Claypool hasn’t quite lived up to his rookie season when he caught 62 passes for 873 yards and scored 11 total touchdowns (nine receiving). He hasn’t really improved over his three years with the team, even though the talent is there. Claypool will enter the final year of his rookie deal in 2023 and had become expendable with the emergence of Pickens.

The Steelers have had a tough time consistently getting the Georgia rookie touches with Claypool and Johnson ahead of him. Pickens will move into the No. 2 role, with either Steven Sims, Miles Boykin or Gunner Olszewski taking over the No. 3 receiver spot.

Claypool has been rumored to be on the trading market for a while. It was a matter of what kind of compensation they got in return. A potentially high second-round pick made it easy for Khan to pull the trigger.

I will always have an unbelievable amount of love for Steelers Nation and the organization that drafted me out of Notre Dame. I am beyond grateful for the amazing people in Pittsburgh for embracing me & the lifelong memories made. Now… Back to business in the Midwest. 🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/jCeHL1CBQ8

— Chase Claypool (@ChaseClaypool) November 1, 2022

While trading Claypool was somewhat expected, adding Jackson, a first-round pick six years ago, wasn’t.

The Steelers were interested in Jackson in the 2016 draft, however, he was selected a pick before by the Bengals at 24. It never worked out for Jackson in Cincinnati. He signed a three-year, $40.5 million contract with the Commanders in 2021, but he wasn’t able to get on the field and he reportedly asked out of Washington. Jackson will count $12.75 million against the cap next year, although Pittsburgh could save all of that by releasing him.

Team officials toldThe Athletic’s Ben Standig that the Commanders might release Jackson, but they ended up trading him to the Steelers, where he will compete with Ahkello Witherspoon and Levi Wallace for playing time. After struggling in a zone-heavy scheme in Washington, Jackson may benefit from playing more man coverage in Pittsburgh.

Khan has shown in his short time on the job that he is willing to take chances and mix things up.

Historically, the Steelers rarely pay receivers on multiyear deals past their first contract. Hines Ward and Antonio Brown were the exceptions, but they were also generational players. In August, Khan stuck to a number in negotiations with Johnson and signed him to a two-year extension below market value.

Khan also signedMinkah Fitzpatrickto a record dealand inkedChris Boswelltoyet another record deal before that.

And now this.

Aside from last year’s trade of Melvin Ingram, the closest the Steelers have come to a deadline-day deal was acquiring Avery Williamson the day before the deadline in 2020, sending a fifth-round pick and getting a seventh back.

The only other in-season trades wereFitzpatrickin 2019 and Levi Brown in 2013, which turned out to be a disaster. Brown was injured during warmups of his first game and never played a snap for the Steelers.

It’s just not the Steelers’ way to make an in-season trade unless it’s necessary. Their trades have come right before the season and during the draft. Now, it’s clear things are changing under Khan.

(Photo of Chase Claypool: Tommy Gilligan / USA Today)