From second round offer to tryout player for the Packers, how Chase Claypool career unraveled after promising NFL start
Wide receiver had two excellent first two seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the physical talent is there, but lack of focus and a recent injury affected his trajectory.
In his first two NFL seasons, wide receiver Chase Claypool combined for 121 catches, 1,733 receiving yards, 13 total touchdowns. There have been four NFL seasons since then, and Claypool has totaled only 528 yards since 2022. It’s one of the wildest, quickest falls for such a talented player in recent memory.
On Friday, the Green Bay Packers had him in for a tryout during their rookie minicamp. Ultimately, according to Bill Huber, the Packers didn’t sign him — and that’s less than four years after offering the Pittsburgh Steelers a second-round pick to acquire him.
What went wrong
Chase Claypool feels like one of the ultimate “what-ifs” in Steelers history. When Pittsburgh selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, there was a feeling that they hit on something big. At 6-4 and nearly 240 pounds, Claypool ran a blistering 4.42 40-yard dash and jumped over 40 inches, displaying elite athletic ability that he backed up on tape.
Well, come year one in Pittsburgh, that was evident as well. Claypool bursts onto the scene with 11 total touchdowns and instantly becomes a vertical threat in the Steelers’ passing attack. He earned the nickname “Mapletron” due to his Clavin Johnson-like physique and playstyle, alongside his Canadian roots.
But that might be where this story starts to go south. By Year 2 in the league, Claypool was becoming increasingly interested in everything off the field. Podcasts, brand deals, marketing, and engagement seemed to take priority over football. In 2021, he recorded just two total touchdowns, and by 2022, he was traded to the Bears at the deadline due to an increased lack of production in Year 3. The talent is there and always has been; it’s just about making sure that football is his biggest priority.
Past few years
After leaving Pittsburgh, Claypool hasn’t been able to put his career back on track. He had only 191 yards for the Chicago Bears, who traded the 2023 32nd overall pick for him, and 26 yards for the Miami Dolphins. In 2024, he signed with the Buffalo Bills, but a significant injury affected him.
Claypool suffered a torn ligament and tendon in his second toe. He’s fully healthy now, but that injury helps explain why he hasn’t played a regular season game since 2023.
The Packers love his physical tools and the upside is undeniable. But in a wide range of outcomes of an NFL career, Chase Claypool realized one of his worst possible scenarios.