Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool, 11, warms up before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at Miami Gardens, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022 (AP) Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Wide receiver Chase Claypool is heading to the Chicago Bears.
A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press that the Pittsburgh Steelers traded Claypool to Chicago for a second-round draft pick in 2023. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is not official, told The Associated Press.
The trade will give Chicago quarterback Justin Fields a downfield threat and look to bolster the lowest-ranked passing offense in the NFL.
Claypool has 32 receptions for 301 yards this season while the Steelers have one touchdown (2-6). He also threw his pass for his first career touchdown against Philadelphia last week with his flip short to fullback Derek his Watts on his play Gadget.
But the 6-foot-4-inch clay pool became expendable with the arrival of rookie George Pickens.
Pickens quickly emerged as Pittsburgh’s No. 2 receiver, pushing Claypool to No. 3 on the depth chart behind Pickens and Dionte Johnson.
After being caught in the second round in 2020, Claypool had 10 touchdowns (8 receiving, 2 rushing) in his first 10 games to help Pittsburgh clinch the AFC North title in an 11-0 start. helped
Replicating its production has proven difficult. Claypool has only four touchdowns in his last 29 games.
The trade gives the rebuilding Steelers more capital in the 2023 draft to help the group search for a new identity in its first year without Ben Roethlisberger, who retired in January. .
Pittsburgh’s 2-6 start is its worst since 2013. The defense is struggling without injuring star his linebacker TJ Watt, and the offense is spattering behind rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett.
Claypool gives Fields another talented (if enigmatic) target to help make the Bears more two-dimensional.