Chase Claypool arrived in Chicago last October. The Bears had high hopes for him. They needed wide receiver help. He had the vast skillset to give Justin Fields a viable go-to target. Ten games, 191 yards, one touchdown, and a regrettable shot at the coaching staff later, Claypool is gone. GM Ryan Poles flushed the mistake by sending him and a 7th round pick to the Miami Dolphins for a 6th round pick in 2025. It goes down in history as one of the worst trades made by the franchise.
One question left unanswered is why the Dolphins even bothered making the deal. It's not like they're in dire need of wide receiver help. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are ripping up the league every week. There had to be a reason. Head coach Mike McDaniel offered one when asked on Friday. It probably wasn't something Claypool enjoyed hearing. In his mind, McDaniels didn't think Miami needed receiving help either. Claypool was added for depth and speed. Nothing more than that.
"We definitely weren't looking for receiver help. It wasn't in that nature at all. Very, very happy with our receivers corps," McDaniel said. "But I think one thing that (general manager) Chris (Grier) and I have always agreed upon and how we operate and do business is you have to stay steadfast to the commitment of making your team as good as it can be."
That is what Chase Claypool has been reduced to.
Two years ago, he was still viewed as a top receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers. There were high hopes for him. In the span of 18 months, he went from that to getting traded away from two teams. He is no longer a first, second, or even third option. Miami views him as cheap insurance if injuries hit their receiving room at some point this season. It is further proof that when you fall in the NFL, it is always hard. Claypool can kiss that lucrative extension he wanted goodbye. He'll be lucky to get much interest beyond cheap one-year deals moving forward.
This serves as another cautionary tale for the Bears. It's often too easy to fall in love with a player's physical skills. Chase Claypool is a rare specimen. Not many guys who are 6'4, 220 lbs can run with 4.4 speed. So much potential. As is often the case, none of that matters if they don't have the mental drive to be great. Claypool lacks in that department. It's always been apparent he doesn't have the maturity, work ethic, or relentlessness to count himself among the best.
Maybe McDaniel can get it out of him, but history says otherwise.
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