Analyst Reveals Overlooked Reason Claypool Trade Is Huge For Justin Fields
Ryan Poles didn’t mince words during his recent presser following the NFL trade deadline. The reason he traded for wide receiver Chase Claypool was simple. He felt the offense needed another impact player to help Justin Fields. The former Pittsburgh Steelers standout brings size, speed, and after-the-catch running ability to the table. Chicago needs more of that. People may criticize him for underachieving the past year or so, but the fact is he’s proven he can play at a high level in the NFL. The Bears can’t be sure they’ll find anybody like that next year in free agency or the draft.
National reactions to the trade are mixed. Some believe the Bears overpaid with a high 2nd round pick for the 24-year-old. They feel his average 2022 season confirms he’s overrated despite obvious quarterback and offensive coordinator problems in Pittsburgh. Others think he is a worthwhile gamble because of his wide-ranging talent and glimpses of brilliance in the two previous years. Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated is a big fan of the trade. He thinks people are overlooking a few things that make it so suitable for Fields.
He explained why in his recent column.
“From a tactical standpoint, if you have a burner getting downfield you’re taking one more defensive player out of the equation if and when Justin Fields decides to take off and run. From an aesthetic standpoint, Claypool offers you much more than a basic burner. I think the Bears are just starting to hit their stride offensively.
We mentioned the Cowboys game in the trade grades, and Fields’s zone-read game is so good right now—he had DeMarcus Lawrence stumbling a few times Sunday. Fields was also pushing the ball downfield pretty well and nearly connected with Velus Jones on a deep shot. Claypool gives them another wrinkle and another player you might want taking a handoff in the backfield from a different angle.”
.@justnfields on @ChaseClaypool: "I'm excited, he’s a playmaker." pic.twitter.com/xv49FyI3Pu
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 2, 2022
Justin Fields is already a lethal running threat.
The last thing anybody wanted to see was somebody coming in that could make him more of one. Chicago’s young quarterback is on pace for 901 yards rushing in 2022. That would be just 67 yards shy of Bobby Douglass’ franchise record. Claypool’s arrival now gives the Bears not one but two legitimate deep threats, along with Darnell Mooney. It means they won’t be able to drop safeties down into the box as often out of fear of getting beat over the top. That will leave more space to run as a result.
On the flip side, if they do decide to do that in hopes of corraling Justin Fields’ legs, then he has a good enough arm to make them pay over the top. They have more than enough speed with those top two guys to execute it. Three if Velus Jones can figure out how to catch the ball consistently. This is the latest evidence that Poles and the coaching staff know what they’re doing. Everything has a purpose.