The Chase Claypool situation has come to a resolution. The Bears are trading the contract-year wideout to the Dolphins, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports Chicago will send Claypool and a 2025 seventh-round pick to Miami for a sixth-rounder in the same year. The deal is now official.
Claypool was a healthy scratch in Week 4, having been told to remain away from the team while a trade could be sought out. That approach continued through last night’s game against the Commanders, which saw the Bears snap their 14-game losing streak. Having repeatedly sat the former second-rounder, it was clear the Bears would move on in some fashion, though many around the league expected Claypool to be waived. Instead, he will now head to South Beach with the Bears clearing the remaining $2.2MM he is due this year from their books. 
Chicago sent a 2023 second-rounder to Pittsburgh less than one year ago in the hopes of boosting their passing attack and giving Claypool a fresh start. The 25-year-old Canadian had underwhelmed in his third Steelers campaign after posting 1,733 yards and 11 touchdowns over his first two. Things did not go according to plan in the Windy City, however, with Claypool amassing a statline of 18-191-1 in 10 games with the Bears. The pick sent to Pittsburgh (No. 32 overall) was ultimately used on corner Joey Porter Jr.
Miami already boasts a hugely effective WR tandem in the form of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but the team has been in search of depth. Both Erik Ezukanma and River Cracraft recently suffered injuries which will sideline them for an extended stretch, so Claypool will join Robbie Chosen as players the Dolphins will take a flier on in the hopes of providing career stability. The latter signed to Miami’s active roster last week to help fill the vacancy created by Ezukanma and Cracraft’s absence.
CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson notes that one other team expressed interest in trading for Claypool, who is set to hit free agency in March. The Bears used this past weekend to decide on a final course of action with the Notre Dame alum, which has produced an underwhelming trade return to no surprise. Claypool’s value has suffered given his lack of production, issues related to attitude and effort and his status as a rental for the remainder of the campaign. It will be interesting to see what role he is able to carve out for himself in Miami.
The Claypool gamble has proven to be a disappointment, something Bears general manager Ryan Poles admitted when speaking publicly about the situation. Confirming that a separation was imminent, he took to ESPN 1000’s pregame radio show last night to express regret for the way things played out.
“You’re always disappointed in this situation, and it’s definitely something I take ownership of,” Poles said, via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. “The right thought process was there, and I feel comfortable with that. Unfortunately it didn’t work out and we were hoping for him to be a little bit more productive and be someone that could help us take it to the next level… I think Chase is going to learn from this situation, we all will, and I wish him luck moving forward throughout his career.”
Dolphins don’t need him. Why add that cancer to your lockeroom. Doesn’t even have the upside to justify the risk.
Yeah, bro is not making Canada proud. Guy just needs to shut up and play.
He’s not worse than Trudeau so that’s something!
Or Matt Canada.
I heard Claypool is notorious for putting oil on Canada Goose eggs.
Claypool and Nickelback…thanks Canada
I can assure you as a Canadian that we Canadians have apologized many times over for Nickelback.
As well you should Motown. Now take it a step further, and STOP THEM.
Whats wrong with Nickleback?
everything
He definitely is going to be a drama queen and potentially screw with the chemistry in the locker room
Bad move
There’s never been a question about his talent. This is all about changing scenery. No one on the Bears has thrown him under the bus. And I’d say they did him a favor sending him to a great offense like that. It’ll be up to him- His career is most definitely on the line.
Can’t wait to hear him why it’s not good for his brand to sit behind Tyreek and Waddle….
Lmao
Wonder what shade he throws at Chicago during his first interview with Miami.
lfg
Coincidence that Chicago’s offense showed signs of life once he was kept away from the rest of the team?
Worst minor trade of the last five years. Talk about buy high, sell low. A second round pick for a conditional non-pick.
Strangely there’s no significant contract attached, no guarantees. Claypool is making “just” $3 million thisyear.
The Steelers say, “Thanks!”
Cue people tripping over themselves to add him in fantasy only to realize he will barely see the ball in that offense.
I think the stampede will be for Atlanta players because if the Bears can hang 40 on your defense imagine what other offenses could do.
Doofus whined himself out of a potential WR2 gig to being buried deeper than Jimmy Hoffa
…or shallower?
well played sir lol
Fleeced em tbh
So, that trade looked great the day it was made.
Then, it looked better when the Bears finished last.
Then, it looked even better when Joey Porter Jr. fell to them at that pick after considering him with their first round pick.
Now, that the Bears have virtually nothing to show for their end, it looks beyond genius.
If I may use a baseball analogy, it looks “Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio” good.
Yet another in a long line of Bear personnel blunders: Foles, Trubisky, A. Robinson, K. Mack, Quinn and now Claypool. Is it any wonder the Bears are SO bad?
Foles was 5-5 as a starter. Trubisky was 29-21 and led them to playoffs twice. ARob had 2 1100+ yard years, Mack was a Pro Bowler 3 years, All-Pro 2 years, and finished 2nd in defensive player of the year, Quinn at least had one year as an All-Pro and Pro Bowler while setting the season record for sacks as a Bear. Mack and Quinn also netted Gordon and Scott which have potential.
For varying degrees, I would not call those all blunders. Claypool, while I understood the trade at the time, is definitely stand alone in its level of a blunder. At least Poles and the Bears admitted it and moved on with something in return.
I understand your point, Tommy, but I don’t know if I would use those examples. Classicfinder beat me to it, but there are better (worse?) examples-Kevin White, N’Keal Harry, Mike Glennon, and Adam Shaheen are probably more suitable. Every team has bad acquisitions, to be fair to the Bears.
Chicago, up until this year, has had individually talented players. Their issues usually originated at the top, and results in clumsy blunders that waste that talent. Or, they’ll have just enough to look good, but fall short of being consistent, and then spiral from there. But they did have a couple of bright spots-the Double Doink season ended badly, but it was a good year for the most part. They had, up until a few years ago, a good defense. They’re not at “Factory of Sadness” levels yet, but the drop off that has occurred recently has taken the Bears from a disappointing team to an abjectly terrible one. It’s unfortunate for Chicago fans, because the Bears’ issues have mostly been coming from the top, across multiple regimes.
Was not expecting Miami to grab him. In my head, and on paper, panthers made most sense
Panthers said they were looking for a #1 receiver. They already have a #4.
Nah I meant for cheap depth.
I feel like someone in our comments section estimated this return for Claypool. Unfortunately, I cannot recall who. Kudos, though.
It was me. Definitely me. I get the credit. Thanks for the kudos
Lol you are welcome, wise and powerful wizard.
Miami, in desperate need for help on the offensive line, trades for a disgruntled, overhyped wide receiver. Another brilliant move by the Dolphins front office.
I didn’t blame Poles for trading to get Claypool. The Bears WR’s last season sucked and the Bears had to find someone for Fields to throw to to see if Fields was even the QB they wanted. And no one knew their 2nd rounder would be the first pick of the 2nd round. I think all the blame is on yet another nut job of a WR. And he’s in a contract year this season!! It’s incredible that he chose now to shut down. And Miami will soon find out. I’m impressed Poles got anything for him.
I blame Poles. He made this trade in the wake of the Roquan Smith deal to deflect criticism from his cheapskate organization and it really makes them look bad now. Not only did you trade the best player on your defense, you idiotically were oblivious to the fact that your team would be much worse so trading your own pick makes the trade a colossal blunder.
This trade would have been bad with the Ravens pick but seeing as it ended up as the #32 pick makes Poles look as dumb as his predecessor who traded picks away like they were nothing. You need to be better than that if you want to break the stigma of this being a loser organization. This guy had fallen to #3 on the Steelers and you traded for him like he was a #1. Horrible move that’s all on Poles. He deserves every bit of criticism as we lost out on a Day one starter(that could be helping this team now) for a 6th round for 7th round pick swap lottery pick. Don’t let this guy off the hook.
He’ll be in CFL next yr. He already speaks Canadian.