2022 Season

Chase Claypool says he’ll make Bears fans happy with Chicago’s decision to trade for him

Chicago Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool remains confident that Bears fans will be happy that Chicago decided to trade for him this season.

Published

3 years ago

December 30, 2022

Bryan Perez

Chase Claypool says he'll make Bears fans happy with Chicago's decision to trade for him (2022 Season)

Chicago Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool hasn’t lived up to the admittedly unfair expectations that came along with the team’s decision to trade their 2023 second-round pick for him at the trade deadline this season. He’s played five games for the Bears since the trade and has just 12 catches for 111 yards.

As it currently stands, the Bears’ second-round pick is No. 33 overall. If Chicago somehow ends the year with the first overall pick, that second-rounder will end up being a first-round value, No. 32 overall, because of the Dolphins’ forfeited first-rounder.

That’s a steep price for a player who hasn’t had a “wow” moment since coming to Chicago and is currently nursing a knee injury. Still, Claypool remains confident that he’ll prove the Bears made a wise decision trading for him.

I smile because I know it was a great trade for the organization,” Claypool said via NBC Sports Chicago. “Right now, however it may look, I don’t want to get roasted for saying something too soon like I have before, but I’m very confident the fans, organization, team will be happy.”

“I want to get with Justin and the receivers in the offseason,” Claypool said. “We’re going to start building this. Not only this season but the offseason. I’ll be really excited for next year. I hope people haven’t counted me out yet. I got a lot to bring to the table.”

Claypool was a logical target for the Bears, who, before acquiring him, seemed destined to overpay for a pass-catcher in an underwhelming class of free agents in the upcoming offseason. With Claypool in place, GM Ryan Poles can focus on acquiring offensive linemen and pass rushers instead. Chicago will be better off with Claypool and a cluster of non-receiver free agents, especially because they still have a selection in the second round after the trade that sent Roquan Smith to Ravens.

‘This offseason will be my biggest offseason yet,” Claypool said. “I’m really excited.”