The Bears acquired wide receiver Chase Claypool from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 2023 second-round draft pick, NFL Network.
Chase Claypool : to the bears | Trade news | Contract
Chase Claypool is a Canadian professional American football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL).
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | July 7, 1998 Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada |
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight: | 238 lb (108 kg) |
He played college football at Notre Dame and was drafted by the Steelers in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Claypool attended Abbotsford Senior Secondary School in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada where he played both basketball and AA football in his senior years and graduated in 2016.
Chase Claypool to the bears
The Bears have been sellers on the trade market the last two weeks, but they switched roles to become buyers on Tuesday.
Field Yates of ESPN reports that the Bears have agreed to a trade with the Steelers for wide receiver Chase Claypool. A 2023 second-round pick will be going back to Pittsburgh.
The news comes a day after the Bears traded linebacker Roquan Smith to the Ravens. They also traded edge rusher Robert Quinn to the Eagles last week and picked up three 2023 draft picks, including Baltimore’s second-round pick, in those deals.
There are conflicting reports about whether it is the Bears’ original second-rounder or the one they got from the Ravens that will be going to Pittsburgh.
With the Steelers struggling and Diontae Johnson signing a contract extension earlier this year, Claypool’s name has been mentioned as a trade candidate in several corners in recent weeks.
The Bears were rarely mentioned as a landing spot, but it seems Chicago see him as a piece that can help quarterback Justin Fields build on some promising recent performances.
The young wide receiver had a breakout rookie year with the Steelers, posting nearly 900 yards and scoring nine touchdowns. However, with the growth and explosion of Diontae Johnson, the Steelers felt that he was expendable.
Trade news
Chicago have pulled off another trade stunner, this time of the incoming kind — acquiring Pittsburgh wide receiver, Chase Claypool.
The Steelers star pass-catcher has been traded to the Windy City in exchange for a 2023 second round pick, per Adam Schefter.
Pittsburgh will be receiving the Bears’ original second-rounder. Field Yates was first on the news of Claypool’s departure from the Steel City in what is a surprise move from Chicago.
The former Steelers receiver has 32 receptions, 311 yards and a touchdown through eight games this season.
Claypool had a fantastic 2020 rookie season in Pittsburgh, accumulating 873 yards and nine touchdowns from 62 receptions.
Since, he has failed to be as great a touchdown threat despite similar yardage and receptions in 2021, compared to his debut year.
The Bears traded away two of its foremost defensive within the past week, dealing Robert Quinn to Philadelphia, and more recently, Roquan Smith to the Ravens.
Two-time second-team All-Pro, Smith, was traded for a second and fifth-round pick. Essentially meaning the Bears have flipped the linebacker — who has half-a-year left on his deal — for Claypool who has 18 months to go.
Chase Claypool contract
Claypool has a base salary of $1.2 million this season and $1.5 million next season. There was a $2.3 million signing bonus when Claypool initially inked the four-year, $6.6 million deal as he entered the league.
| Contract: | 4 yr(s) / $6,616,625 |
| Signing Bonus | $2,372,092 |
| Average Salary | $1,654,156 |
| Total Guarantees | $3,282,848 |
| Guaranteed at Signing | $3,282,848 |
| Free Agent: | 2024 / UFA |
The Bears are adding a dynamic weapon on the outside to complement Darnell Mooney and give Justin Fields another target, and they’re doing so at a relative discount.
The Steelers have about $1.7 million of dead cap money in this deal and get a second-round pick for a receiver who might be viewed as a duplicate with rookie George Pickens coming on strong.
We’ll see if the Bears sign Claypool to an extension to lock him on a long-term deal.