Never Suffer From Steelers Trade Wr Chase Claypool To Bears For 2023 Second-Round Pick Again– Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles moved from a seller to a buyer on Tuesday’s trading deadline.
NFL Network insider Tom Pelicero reported Tuesday that the Bears acquired wide receiver Chase Claypool from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 2023 second-round draft pick. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport said the Steelers will receive the Bears’ original second-round pick, not the pick they received in Monday’s deal with the Ravens for Rokan Smith.
ESPN was the first to report this news.
Chicago fans are clamoring for the Poles to make a move that would help develop second-year quarterback Justin Fields. The Poles finally answered that call on Tuesday, albeit at a heavy cost to the former second-round pick in their third season. The 24-year-old Claypool has a contract until 2023.
In Claypool, Chicago finds a strong, almost-border receiver who can help spread the field and pairs well with Darnell Mooney on the Bears’ offense. Claypool racked up 800 receiving yards in his first two seasons with Pittsburgh and caught a total of 11 touchdowns. In 2022, he caught 32 passes for 311 yards and a touchdown. (Steelers Trade WR Chase Claypool To Bears For 2023 Second-Round Pick)
Claypool was expendable as the Steelers were expanding Dionte Johnson in the off-season and rookie George Pickens was looking for more goals. But Pittsburgh wasn’t going to sell Claypool cheap. He received excellent compensation for the second-round pick. NFL Network’s Tom Pelicero reported that the Steelers didn’t end the day as they were also buyers, receiving cornerback William Jackson III from the Washington Commanders in a trade that included a draft pick trade in the final round. A low-risk addition to the Steelers would see Jackson reuniting with Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, who coached Jackson in 2018 while they were both with the Cincinnati Bengals. (Steelers Trade WR Chase Claypool To Bears For 2023 Second-Round Pick)
After trading veteran defensive player Robert Quinn for a fourth-round pick and Smith for second- and fifth-round picks, the Poles traded some of their assets for a young receiver. Claypool can grow along the fields and extend an offense that desperately needs wide receivers who can create isolation, make competitive catches and gain yards after the catch. (Steelers Trade WR Chase Claypool To Bears For 2023 Second-Round Pick)
According to Police, the Bears are leaving wide receiver Isaiah Coulter to make room for Claypool.
The Poles’ deadline deals acknowledge the need to add offensive talent around the fields. He did this by sending out experienced defenders who were not in his long-term plans. After Tuesday’s acquisition, the Poles still have eight draft picks in 2023 and more than $100 million in the salary-cap space to continue their rebuilding.
