Chicago Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool is not happy. It’s a forgone conclusion that he will be traded or release, and the Detroit Lions could be a team to watch in a cheap trade for the disgruntled wideout.
Last week, Claypool was asked if he felt the Bears had been utilizing him correctly, and he flatly said no. Judging by the fact that he was a healthy scratch during Chicago’s Week 4 matchup with the Denver Broncos, it seems safe to say that the Bears were not too happy with his remarks. Either that, or Chicago just doesn’t want to use him, period.
Well, with the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline looming, Claypool seems like a natural candidate to be moved. NFL insider Jordan Schultz has reported that the Bears have in fact placed Claypool on the trade block, and they are seeking a fifth or sixth-round draft pick in return for him.
Could the Detroit Lions get involved?
The Lions lack top-flight receiving depth behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, so Claypool could be a nice fit in Detroit’s receiving corps. Plus, as Justin Rogers of The Detroit News notes, the Lions have had an affinity for big-framed receivers in the past. The 6-foot-4, 238-pound Claypool certainly fits that mold.
Claypool, who played his collegiate football at Notre Dame, was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
He had a strong rookie campaign, hauling in 62 receptions for 873 yards and nine touchdowns. However, the Canadian native stagnated in his second season, catching 59 passes for 860 yards and two scores.
After a relatively slow start in 2022 (not to mention multiple run-ins with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin), Claypool was traded to the Bears midway through the season.
The 25-year-old snared just 14 balls for 140 yards in his first half-season with Chicago, and this year, Chase Claypool has logged a grand total of four grabs for 51 yards and a touchdown.
It seems pretty evident that things are not working between Claypool and the Bears, who are now 0-4. The Lions, meanwhile, are 3-1.
