The reactions to Chicago trading for Chase Claypool ranged from excitement to shock to disappointment. Many fans were thrilled to finally see Bears GM Ryan Poles make an aggressive move to get Justin Fields help on offense. The move was unexpected because, up until that point, Poles had only traded players away. Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn, and Roquan Smith were all shipped out for draft picks. Claypool marked the first transaction in the opposite direction.
Most liked the move, but some backpedaled when they saw the price paid to make the deal. Chicago gave their 2nd round pick in 2023 to Pittsburgh. Based on the team’s current trajectory, it is likely that the selection will end up somewhere in the 30s range. That is too expensive for a receiver in the middle of his least productive season. However, new details have surfaced since that help to explain.
It first came out that the Green Bay Packers were also in heavy pursuit of Claypool. They, too, offered a 2nd round pick for him. That forced Chicago to up their offer. Yet that might not be the only curveball. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, it sounds like a third team was quietly in the mix right up until the end.
Poles understood the market with Chase Claypool.
When more teams are involved in a player, the price goes up. That is how this business works. This is where Poles’ early maneuvers gave him a leg up. Green Bay offered their 2nd round pick but wasn’t willing to go any further. New England may have put together a similar package. The problem is both teams are expected to finish with better records than the Bears. Poles understood the leverage he had with that original 2nd rounder and used it. Don’t forget he did so, knowing he had another 2nd in his back pocket thanks to the Smith trade.
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That is what smart GMs do. They read the market and make sound decisions without overpaying. Everything points to the Bears having handled the Chase Claypool trade well. They acquired a 24-year-old receiver with immense talent while maintaining eight picks in the upcoming draft. Nobody can say for sure how good Claypool will be in Chicago. Yet it’s already apparent the Bears offense got better.
