Why Dolphins' trade for Chase Claypool isn't the steal that it seems to be
Chase Claypool is 6'4", 238 pounds. He runs like the wind. He started off his NFL career with a promising rookie campaign of 62 catches for 873 yards and 9 touchdowns. The Miami Dolphins still made a mistake bringing him on board, even for the peanuts they gave up for him. The Dolphins acquired the […]
Chase Claypool is 6'4", 238 pounds. He runs like the wind. He started off his NFL career with a promising rookie campaign of 62 catches for 873 yards and 9 touchdowns.
The Miami Dolphins still made a mistake bringing him on board, even for the peanuts they gave up for him.
The Dolphins acquired the embattled fourth-year wide receiver on Friday for an exchange of late-round 2025 draft picks, per the team.
It's no secret the Dolphins could use some size at its wide receiver position. Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Braxton Berrios aren't going to leap over many NFL defenders and take the ball away.
More speed doesn't hurt either. Claypool ran a 4.42 40-yard dash time at the combine and boasted yards per catch averages of 14.1 and 14.6 in his first two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And make no mistake, he has the skills to make some incredible plays.
But when someone tells you who they are, you listen. And that's especially when they tell you twice. Claypool is a player who appears to be more interested in Claypool and less in the team that's paying him.
He first made unflattering widespread headlines in the Steelers' 36-28 loss to the Vikings where he delayed getting the ball back to the official while celebrating a first down. He acknowledged some responsibility while also pointing fingers elsewhere after the game.
Claypool was traded to the Bears right before the 2022 trade deadline for a second-round pick, and he never was able to become the big, productive target Chicago was looking to pair with Justin Fields. Instead, he made news there for the wrong reasons as well.
He was called out publicly by many media for an obvious lack of effort in the 2023 season opener against the Packers.
It was so bad and so obvious that Claypool reportedly had to go to the team – players and front office – and apologize for his lack of effort. He was apparently told that any such repeat offense would see his time in Chicago come to an end.
Well, now it has, thanks to the Dolphins, who must now try to find a way to motivate and salvage what's left of that wide receiver who showed so much promise in 2020.
The problem is the risk you run to get that production. The Miami Dolphins have been playing well. They've been playing hard. There's little room to deny either of those statements.
Now, you insert a player into that locker room who has acted against the best interests of his teammates and caused distractions that have gained attention around the league. You've just added a risk to your team chemistry who has shown nothing in the past two years that believes there's a viable upside coming from it.
The easiest thing in the world to do – in football or anything else – is to simply try. To hustle. To work hard. Chase Claypool simply hasn't looked like he's wanted to play in the NFL this season. If that attitude doesn't change immediately, the Dolphins have to move on from him quickly.
Because that kind of mentality has no place in Miami's locker room. Or any other one, for that matter.
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