Tim Benz: Steelers excited about pick No. 32. Now they better figure out how to use it

For months, Pittsburgh Steelers fans and media members have been gushing about the franchise acquiring the Chicago Bears’ pick in the second round of this year’s NFL draft. They were doing so even before it became obvious that the selection would be the first one in the second round.

Even by early December, when the Bears were clearly limping toward the finish line of the 2022 season, however close that pick got to the top of the second round, it was clear that the selection would result in great value in exchange for Chase Claypool — a guy who caught just 14 passes for 140 yards in seven games for the Bears after the Nov. 1 trade.

The way Steelers Twitter types drooled over the pick, you’d have thought the Steelers had acquired pick No. 2 instead of No. 32.

Sure, based on Claypool’s performance so far in Chicago, it looks like a fleecing.

Let’s be honest, though. Part of the celebration over that result is that now we can all subconsciously forget that Claypool ended up being nothing more than a foul-ball, second-rounder from the Steelers themselves — in a year (2020) when they didn’t even have a first-round selection.

Let’s avoid pretending that kind of after-the-fact scrubbing of the ol’ mental hard drives isn’t happening here.

During their pre-draft press conference Monday, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan ramped up the enthusiasm about having the top pick in the second round.

“Man, we’re excited about it. We’ve been talking about it,” Tomlin beamed. “I think the thing that we’re least familiar about is the amount of calls that we will be or could be getting. That’s what we’ve spent our time talking about — how do we organize and how do we get prepared for the receiving of the amount of interest that pick could have? That’s a good and exciting possibility for us.”

They seem so keyed up about that pick; there’s only one conclusion to draw about how they want to use it.

Trade it.

“That 32nd position is new to us,” Tomlin said. “That’s something that is probably going to have more of our attention in terms of the spontaneity of it or the uniqueness of it. It’s just due diligence in terms of preparing for the myriad of things that could happen at 17, whether we stay there, move up, move back.”

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Tomlin said he and Khan are also preparing for the types of trade inquiries they might be receiving to acquire that selection.

“We’re acknowledging we’re not quarterback shopping. That position might be one that attracts quarterback shoppers,” Tomlin added. “So, it’s exciting to see what might transpire with some of those phone calls, the value that we might be able to get. It is a unique position for us to be in. We are very excited about it.”

To Tomlin’s point, let’s say the Steelers do use their current first-round pick at No. 17. The first pick in the second round could go to a QB-hungry team if only two or three signal callers go in the first round.

That could result in an even bigger haul for the Steelers than what would normally be the case. Because, when it comes to the draft or free agency, there is always inflation with all things quarterback-related.

However the Steelers end up using that currency, for the six months of hype it has received, the front office needs to hit a home run with it.

If the goal is to package No. 32 with No. 17 to get into the top 10 for Christian Gonzalez (CB, Oregon), Paris Johnson Jr. (OT, Ohio State) or Jalen Carter (DL, Georgia), then they better pick the best of that lot.

Hey, saying that the Steelers ostensibly turned Chase Claypool into a top 10 pick has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

If the team uses that pick in its current location — as the top selection in the second round — then it needs to get the best player possible at defensive line, offensive tackle or cornerback. In other words, whatever they didn’t get in Round 1.

If they sleep on it overnight Thursday into Friday and deal it away for value next year — or an additional second-rounder this year — those two selections better pay off.

Because Tomlin is right about that pick, and — to an extent — the outside hype surrounding it has been warranted.

It is useful. It is highly valuable. It is a way to make up for what Claypool didn’t turn out to be.

But it’s not just a fun toy or a freebie. With that much appeal and attention on No. 32 — and why the Steelers have it to begin with — using that chip successfully feels like it is almost as important as getting No. 17 right in the first round.

So they better not screw it up.

I mean, Tomlin and Khan can’t count on the Bears to trade with them every year.

Listen: Tim Benz and Joe Rutter discuss the Steelers’ potential draft strategy