NFL trade deadline: Bears reportedly acquire WR Chase Claypool from Steelers
The Chicago Bears are trading for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool, according to Field Yates of ESPN.
BREAKING: The Bears are trading for Steelers WR Chase Claypool, per source.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 1, 2022
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Bears sent a second-round pick to the Steelers in exchange for Claypool. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero further added that the pick will be for the 2023 NFL draft. While it was reported that the Bears actually sent the Steelers the second-round pick they got from the Baltimore Ravens in the recent Roquan Smith trade, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport tweeted that the Bears are sending their own 2023 draft pick.
The #Steelers are receiving the #Bears original second-round pick for Chase Claypool, source said. Not the pick the #Ravens pick.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 1, 2022
The Steelers have also reportedly acquired Washington Commanders cornerback Will Jackson III. The compensation for the deal is unknown.
Claypool, 24, was the Steelers' second-round pick in the 2020 draft. He's tallied over 800 receiving yards in each of his first two NFL seasons, but he hasn't been used quite as much in 2022 with the quarterback changes. Claypool was popular with retired QB Ben Roethlisberger, but with Kenny Pickett starting under center this year, other guys like rookie George Pickens have gotten more use. This season, Claypool has caught 32 passes for 311 yards with one touchdown.
This is a trade that could help the Bears' young quarterback, Justin Fields, who has been making some noticeable improvements on the field after a rough start. Fields needs more weapons to work with, and if Claypool can be the kind of guy who can handle a contested catch or be that open man on the field, he'll help Fields a lot. And even if he can't be that particular guy, having a functional wide receiver to throw to will still help Fields.
