Sounds Like Chase Claypool Has Just About Hit Rock Bottom

Going into 2022, Chase Claypool felt like a wide receiver on track to secure a massive payday after two productive seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. All he needed was one more good year and he’d likely secure his bag. Instead, he found himself relegated to limited target through the first half to the season as rookie George Pickens outperformed him. When it became clear Claypool wasn’t rising to the challenge, Pittsburgh opted to cut their losses by trading him to the Chicago Bears for a 2nd round pick.

It was hoped coming to a team where targets were more plentiful might reinvigorate him. Instead, Claypool spent barely a year with the Bears, producing 191 yards and one touchdown. His time was characterized by dropped passes, nagging injuries, and expressing public frustrating with how he was being used. Chicago realized they were wasting their time by the middle of 2023 and sent him to Miami for a 6th round pick. Unsurprisingly, he had minimal impact during the Dolphins’ playoff run. Now, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, he is dangerously close to a humiliating demotion.

Not long ago, receiver Chase Claypool seemed to be on track for stardom. Now, the CFL is anticipating his availability.

Claypool, a second-round pick of the Steelers in 2020, is a free agent. His name has yet to come up in the current signing cycle. And so the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL are making their move.

Via 3downnation.com, the Roughriders have added Claypool to the team’s exclusive negotiating list.

It doesn’t mean Claypool is headed for Canada. But if he ever goes there, the Roughriders have dibs.

Chase Claypool going to the CFL would be the ultimate humbling experience.

This is a guy who dominated top competition at Notre Dame and looked like a star in his rookie season. To go from that to the much smaller and less lucrative CFL would be an all-time fall from grace. Claypool is in his prime. He still has loads of talent. It is simply that teams have become aware of his poor attitude, lacking work ethic, and bad tendency to value his social media presence over his team’s success. The Bears learned a hard lesson two years ago. If the Steelers are willing to give up on a wide receiver? Buyer beware.

There is still a strong possibility someone will at least bring Chase Claypool in as a training camp invite. He’s too talented. However, there is no way a CFL team would put him on a negotiating list unless they felt there was a semi-reasonable chance they could sign him. NFL players have gone to Canada plenty of times over the years. Claypool would have no problem dominating the defensive competition up there. He’d be a big fish in a small pond. Maybe that is what he’s ultimately looking for.