Chase Claypool’s brief, yet tumultuous, tenure with the Bears has come to an end.
Chicago is trading Claypool to the Dolphins, the teams announced Friday. The Bears will send a seventh-round pick in 2025 to Miami to offload the 25-year-old receiver while acquiring a 2025 sixth-round pick in return.
The relationship between Claypool and the Bears reached a tipping point over the past week when the former Steelers wideout said that the team’s game plan didn’t allow him to show the best of his abilities. Claypool was then a healthy scratch during last Sunday’s game against the Broncos and reportedly was asked to stay away from the team during its preparations for Thursday’s win over the Commanders.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles had implied that a move involving Claypool was in the works ahead of the team’s 40–20 victory over Washington.
“I think Chase is going to learn from this situation. We all will, and I wish him luck moving forward throughout his career,” Poles said on ESPN 1000’s pregame radio show Thursday.
TRADE | We have agreed to terms on a trade with the Chicago Bears for WR Chase Claypool and a 2025 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick, pending a physical. pic.twitter.com/0bCj4rpKJf
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) October 6, 2023
Claypool, who was acquired by Chicago from Pittsburgh for a second-round pick on Nov. 1, 2022, didn’t even make it a full calendar year with the Bears. In 10 games with the NFC North franchise, he made just 18 catches for 191 yards and one touchdown.
Now headed for Miami, Claypool will do his best to get his career back on track, but he might find it difficult to get touches behind the likes of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The Bears, now 1–4 on the year, will turn the page and hope to move forward after the failed acquisition.
