One of the strangest sagas in the NFL has come to an end. According to multiple media reports, the Chicago Bears have come to terms on a trade that will send embattled wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round NFL Draft pick. To facilitate the deal, Chicago will send a seventh-round selection in the same Draft to Miami.
The #Bears are trading WR Chase Claypool to the #Dolphins, sources tell me and @TomPelissero. This ends a prolonged drama and gives Claypool a fresh start. They have tried to trade him since last week after he was a healthy scratch. Now, everyone moves on. pic.twitter.com/RKJHrllA1T
â Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 6, 2023
Trade! The Chicago Bears are trading WR Chase Claypool to the Miami Dolphins, per league sources. It will be a 2025 6th from Miami for Claypool and a 2025 7th from Chicago. https://t.co/Rqt3k5LjPw
â Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 6, 2023
Claypool, a 2020 second-round pick out of Notre Dame by the Pittsburgh Steelers, joined the Bears last November â Chicago sent Pittsburgh a second-round selection in 2023, which ended up being the first pick in the round and was used on a cornerback prospect, Joey Porter Jr. While Claypoolâs physical gifts have never been in question, his attitude and approach to the game have led to him coming under fire at both of his previous pit stops.
This season, Claypool received scrutiny for a perceived lack of effort during the Bearsâ season opening loss to the Green Bay Packers, and more recently, Chicago has made him a healthy scratch for each of the last two games, including Thursday nightâs win over the Washington Commanders.
âIt comes down to this. When youâre evaluating players in meetings, in practice, in walk-throughs, all those things, itâs important that you evaluate the entire body of work, right?â Bears coach Matt Eberflus said earlier this week. âAnd we just feel that right now Chase is going to be out of the building, itâs best for our football team.â
Claypool started five of the 10 games in which he appeared for Chicago, and registered 18 receptions for 191 yards and a touchdown.