'Strongest and fastest I’ve ever been' — Former Bears mistake is aiming to find a home before training camp, saying a team takes the bait
The Chicago Bears have had some big swings and misses throughout this rebuild under general manager Ryan Poles, but no move set the team further back than before like the Chase Claypool trade did in 2022.The logic made sense for the Bears' front office. Chicago needed a big-play threat on offense for former quarterback Justin […]
The Chicago Bears have had some big swings and misses throughout this rebuild under general manager Ryan Poles, but no move set the team further back than before like the Chase Claypool trade did in 2022.
The logic made sense for the Bears' front office. Chicago needed a big-play threat on offense for former quarterback Justin Fields to go to in the passing game and took a swing on a high upside player in Claypool, but quickly learned a hard lesson.
Bad trades happen all the time in the NFL and teams can cut their losses pretty easily if things don't work out. The problem with the Claypool trade is what the Bears gave up.
Chicago traded the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which was technically the first selection of the second-round. Pittsburgh used that pick to select cornerback Joey Porter Jr. who turned into a consistent contributor for the Steelers' defense.
Meanwhile, Claypool made it 10 games into his tenure with the Bears before getting traded alongside a future seventh-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for a future sixth-round selection. That was 640 days ago, and now Claypool seems to be gearing up for a second chance to save his career in the NFL.
Over the Holiday weekend, Claypool shared a post on social media detailing the rehab progress he underwent back in August after spending training camp with the Buffalo Bills and his intentions for 2025 after missing the entire 2024 season.
"I tore a ligament and a tendon in my second toe and have been rehabbing, working out, and recovering every day for the past year. I am back to being the strongest and fastest I’ve ever been and couldn’t be more excited to step back out on the field and let my actions speak for themselves. I deeply and truly believe that the pieces will align, and I will work my way into the position to show off what’s been suppressed these last two years." – via Chase Claypool's Instagram post
Training camp for all 32 teams will start ramping up in the next 2.5 weeks or so. Posting this now was smart by Claypool to put the bait into the water and see if any teams will bite, but there's clear risk beyond just his recent injury.
Claiming he's the "strongest and fastest" he's ever been isn't much to go off of. Claypool's always been known to be a physical specimen on the football field using his size and speed combination. What's deterred teams in the past and forced him off the roster in Pittsburgh and Chicago was mainly his off-the-field actions.
At the start of the 2023 season, Claypool expressed frustrations with how Chicago's offensive staff was using him, to the point Claypool was held out of the team's Week 4 game and was not even allowed to attend the game. The trade to Miami was made five days later.
Lack of real production should be a concern for teams as well. Since being traded from Pittsburgh, Claypool has totaled 22 receptions, 217 yards and one touchdown in 19 games between his time in Chicago and Miami.
Pairing those two concerns with the fact he's coming off a season-long injury doesn't bode well for Claypool's chances of getting a training camp opportunity.
Another option is out there for Claypool in the CFL. The Saskatchewan Roughriders added Claypool to their negotiation list, meaning that team will "own" his rights if he decides to join the CFL in 2025. Which, honestly, might be his best solution if other general managers decide to avoid the risk the Bears once took back in 2022.
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