The Miami Dolphins surprised a lot of people when it was announced that they agreed to a trade to acquire wide receiver Chase Claypool from the Chicago Bears. There were a number of reasons people reacted the way they did, with the most obvious one being his standing with the Bears.
Chicago acquired Claypool from the Pittsburgh Steelers last year ahead of the deadline in exchange for what turned out to be the No. 32 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The steep price tag is as big of a reason as to why Claypool remained on the roster for as long as he did.
In 10 games with the Bears, Claypool caught 18 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown. To say things didn’t work out would be an understatement as this deal could be considered one of the worst trades in NFL history. After lackluster blocking performances to start the season and some questionable comments, Claypool was sent home by the team.
So, the Dolphins acquiring a player who was likely on the verge of getting cut is certainly surprising. On top of that, Miami doesn’t necessarily need much help at wide receiver. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are one of the best duos in the NFL and solid depth exists behind them with Cedrick Wilson Jr., Braxton Berrios, River Cracraft and Robbie Chosen.
Why would the Dolphins want to disrupt what has been the No. 1 offense in the NFL? In the opinion of Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, it could be to upgrade the team’s current situation at tight end.
That would certainly be one way to get the most out of Claypool’s unique combination of size and athleticism. Head coach Mike McDaniel is one of the brightest offensive minds in the NFL and will do what he can to extract the most out of Claypool, who has disappointed in recent seasons.
The tight end spot is currently held down by Durham Smythe after Mike Gesicki departed in free agency. Claypool is going to have to show more effort as a blocker with the Dolphins than he did with the Bears, especially if he is deployed as a tight end. But, he is a potential mismatch nightmare for opponents if he operates as a pass catcher at the tight end spot.
