The Chicago Bears stunned plenty of onlookers. They, at least briefly, shifted their focus from being a seller at the trade deadline to being a buyer. They swung a seemingly out-of-nowhere trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers for wide receiver Chase Claypool.
Standing 6-foot-4 and listed at 239-pounds, Claypool and Bears quarterback Justin Fields are already in lock-step agreement about what the former offers the latter.
A “playmaker”.
That playmaker is also a fiery competitor and took time during his introductory presser to address his ongoing development into a leader. He arrived amid questions surrounding his maturity and toughness. But his message to Bears fans should go a long way to instilling the confidence they will get the very best of him.
Chase Claypool Sends Message to Bears Fans
Claypool Addresses Fans Directly
The newly acquired Claypool said he came straight to Halas Hall from the airport. He then met with the local media for a little over four minutes to introduce himself. That included addressing some of the questions about his lackluster production this season.
He chalked much of it up to being utilized in the slot back in Pittsburgh. That should not be an issue in Chicago.
But he sent a direct message to the Bears faithful via Twitter.
Chicago, know imma snap. pic.twitter.com/uFPZn12FSn
— Chase Claypool (@ChaseClaypool) November 3, 2022
“I’m a playmaker and I’m excited to make plays,” the big-bodied pass-catcher said. “I feel like I didn’t have the full opportunity to show what I can do this year, but I think I’ve been able to show that in the past…So a dynamic playmaker is the guy that the Bears are getting.”
Claypool added the is excited to prove his worth as a reliable option for Justin Fields. Fields could certainly use one with the Bears ranking in the bottom half of the league in drops.
The Bears’ young passer seems to agree with Claypool’s self-assessment.
“He’s a playmaker, a big body, athletic, fast, a great 50/50 ball catcher,” Fields said of Claypool. “Just practicing with him and getting to throw with him a little bit, that will just help me find out what he’s best at doing.” (h/t Larry Mayer/ChicBears.com
The duo shares the same agency but Claypool has deeper bonds on the roster already with tight end Cole Kmet, a teammate while in college at Notre Dame.
Claypool is mired in a down campaign with just 37 receptions, 311 yards, and one touchdown.
But he logged 121 grabs for 1733 yards and 11 scores over the previous two seasons when paired with a more capable quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger. Even in his late 30s, Roethlisberger made better use of Claypool. The latter has dealt with a season split between Bears castoff Mitchell Trubisky and rookie Kenny Pickett this year.
There is plenty of reason to believe that the former second-round pick could benefit greatly from a change of scenery — at least that’s what the Bears surely hope.
watched some Chase Claypool film last night, here's what I saw:
– he's a willing blocker
– the Steelers have him primarily running shallow crossers/out routes, which is objectively not a good use of his size and skill set
– Kenny Pickett stinks
– Matt Canada stinks— Jeremy Layton (@JeremyLayt0n) November 2, 2022
It remains to be seen just how well he can mesh with Fields. But the fit seems obvious and Claypool’s attitude seems to be just what the Bears want to hear.
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