Steelers Now
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts thought he was going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler when he got the call during the 2020 NFL Draft.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts has led the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl LIX appearance after defeating the Washington Commanders in the NFC title game on Sunday. Maybe in a different world, that could be the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Hurts was selected with the No. 53 overall pick by the Eagles in the 2020 NFL Draft, but when he saw the Pennsylvania caller ID pop up on his phone, he thought he was going to the Steelers.
“I know Pittsburgh had maybe the 48th pick or 40 something. Their first pick was in the second round and I thought I was going to Pittsburgh,” Hurts said on the “New Heights” podcast. “So when I saw PA, I’m like, ‘Oh, this is Pittsburgh.'”
"I thought I was going to Pittsburgh … from the interview I didn't think I was going to be an Eagle" 👀@JalenHurts spoke about his draft night experience for the first time with @JasonKelce and @tkelce pic.twitter.com/KlKI9ASTSq
— New Heights (@newheightshow) November 10, 2022
Instead, the Steelers opted to draft wide receiver Chase Claypool with the No. 49 overall pick, which is a decision they would later come to regret.
Claypool looked like the real deal at first. Through his first two seasons, he recorded 121 catches for 1,733 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, things took a turn during his third season.
In 2022, Claypool was benched for poking Vikings cornerback Bashaud Breeland in the face and then he was criticized for celebrating a first down reception while the Steelers were trailing 36–28 with just 30 seconds left in the game.
Not long after, he was traded to the Chicago Bears for their second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. In 2023, the Bears traded Claypool to the Miami Dolphins. He is now a free agent.
The only silver lining in the Steelers decision to pass on Hurts for Claypool is that pick (No. 32 overall) turned out to be promising cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
Still, if the Steelers had the chance to go back and change their decision, they likely would. Pittsburgh has been stuck in quarterback purgatory since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season.
As for Hurts, he has thrown for 14,667 yards and 85 touchdowns while also rushing for 3,133 yards and 55 touchdowns in his first five seasons. During that span, he has been named second-team All-Pro twice and to two Pro Bowls.
All of that, of course, is now outshined with a trip to the Super Bowl with a team he never even considered being a part of.
“I had no idea I would come here. I had no idea,” Hurts said. “I had an interview with them at the draft, like an official interview. From the interview, I didn’t think I was going to be an Eagle.”
That has likely left the Steelers kicking themselves and...
