It will go down as one of the worst trades in Chicago Bears history. GM Ryan Poles, desperately needing help for Justin Fields, sent a 2nd round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for wide receiver Chase Claypool. People felt the price was a bit steep at the time. Despite his obvious talent, Claypool had never cracked 1,000 yards and had a contract situation coming up. Poles had taken a somewhat reckless gamble on a player who had been steadily declining since his rookie season in 2020.
Still, the GM felt the risk was worth it. Time proved him incorrect. Claypool spent 14 games with the Bears between 2022 and 2023. In that time, he caught 18 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown. Along the way, he sparked controversy both with his tirades on the field and his statements about the coaches misusing him off the field. Rather than wait things out to see if they improved, Poles cut his losses and sent Claypool to Miami for a 6th round pick. The wide receiver didn’t have much to say for the past few months. That finally changed in Buffalo where he’s fighting to make his latest team.
“I think it is tough believing the player that you are or can be, and falling short of those expectations, especially over the last two years, for sure. It is a tough position because I know there’s times where it can be frustrating if I’m not living up to my potential.
“But if it’s frustrating to the outside world, it’s even more frustrating for me. I understand where I should be. And I understand that I haven’t met those expectations. And that’s why I work harder and harder and harder and harder every year so I can meet and exceed those expectations.”
The wide receiver’s work ethic has always been a source of criticism. While nobody disputes his immense talent, he constantly demonstrates a lack of intensity and attention to detail. Head coach Matt Eberflus even referenced this when asked why the Bears traded him last year. He didn’t single out Claypool by name but did allude to the team standards of “being on time, being respectful and working hard.” That was an obvious indication Claypool didn’t meet the criteria during his brief time there.
Poles didn’t lose too much time wallowing in self-pity. Mere months later, he pulled off the blockbuster deal to send the #1 pick to Carolina in exchange for wide receiver D.J. Moore and three additional draft picks. One of them became quarterback Caleb Williams. It’s safe to say he more than made up for the Chase Claypool mistake. As for the man himself, he faces a steep uphill battle to make the roster after all the additions Buffalo made this off-season. Unless he lights it up in training camp, he may fail to make a team for the first time in his career.
