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Notre Dame football: Predicting veteran breakout NFL seasons in 2021

By Brad Weiss

Sep 14, 2019; South Bend, IN, USA; The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are reflected in a helmet as they sing the Notre Dame Alma Mater following the win over the New Mexico Lobos at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2019; South Bend, IN, USA; The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are reflected in a helmet as they sing the Notre Dame Alma Mater following the win over the New Mexico Lobos at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 16: Chase Claypool #83 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish scores a touchdown past Kevin Brennan #10 of the Navy Midshipmen in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on November 16, 2019, in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 16: Chase Claypool #83 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish scores a touchdown past Kevin Brennan #10 of the Navy Midshipmen in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on November 16, 2019, in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football: Predicting veteran breakout NFL seasons in 2021

Chase Claypool, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Like Kmet, Chase Claypool was a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, selected six picks after the big tight end at No. 49 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers. With so many changes on the offensive side of the ball in the Steel City, Claypool entered a perfect scenario as a rookie, and he did not disappoint.

For the season, Claypool racked up nearly 900 yards and nine touchdowns through the air, while also scoring two rushing touchdowns. It was a tremendous season for the rookie, and with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger returning in 2021, you can expect Claypool’s numbers to not only improve but for him to overtake JuJu Smith-Schuster as the top wide receiver within a deep position group in Pittsburgh.

Overall, we will see a ton of new members of the Irish program enter their first season in the league, and some of those should have an immediate impact. The Notre Dame football program sends multiple players to the NFL every year, and for these three, 2021 will be the season they become household names.

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