The Chicago Bears made a significant move to help bolster their offense and the development of second-year quarterback Justin Fields as general manager Ryan Poles traded for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool. Chicago acquired Claypool for a second-round draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The trade drastically improves the Bears’ wide receiver position, which has completely changed from a personnel standpoint in one month.
The Wide Receiver Position Has Gotten Healthier and More Talented Since Early October
At the start of October, there were several significant concerns regarding the Bears’ offense as Fields was struggling as a passer while the wide receivers couldn’t create any production. Following the team’s Week 4 game against the New York Giants, pass-catcher Darnell Mooney led the Bears’ receiver position with eight catches through four games, with half of those catches coming against the New York. The receiver position that featured Mooney, Equanimeous St. Brown, Velus Jones Jr, and Dante Pettis struggled to make any impactful contribution to Chicago’s offense through the first four games of 2022.
With Fields’ improvement week-by-week since the Bears’ Week 5 game against Minnesota, it has become apparent that the wide receiver position has lacked the talent necessary to make game-changing plays. In four of Chicago’s last five games, there has been at least a costly drop or fumble by a Bears’ wide receiver that has played a vital role in the outcome of each game. Pettis, Mooney, and Jones have all dropped potential touchdown catches or passes that would have resulted in a +30-yard gain in the past month.
Justin Fields threw a fantastic deep ball that went right off the fingertips of Velus Jones Jr…
Unacceptable for an NFL WR – especially one drafted on Day 2 – to drop those kinds of passes. #Bears
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) October 30, 2022
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Through the first eight games of the 2022 season, none of the Bears’ receivers have posted a 100-yard game, while Mooney’s seven receptions against Washington are the most in a game yet. Although Fields struggled in September with throwing accuracy and execution of offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s passing offense, there has been a noticeable issue with the talent level at the Bears’ receiver position.
When the Bears play the Miami Dolphins at Soldier Field on Sunday, the wide receiver position will look vastly different from the last time they played at home back on October 13th. Against Miami, Chicago’s receiver position could feature Mooney, Claypool, St. Brown, Pettis, N’Keal Harry, and Byron Pringle. Since returning from an ankle injury, Harry has recorded back-to-back games with a reception of 15 yards or longer, including a 17-yard touchdown catch against the Dallas Cowboys.
Justin Fields' WRs tonight:
*Darnell Mooney – Good
*Equanimeous St. Brown – Career backup
*Dante Pettis – Career backup
*Ihmir Smith-Marsette – '21 5th rd pick cut by Vikings
*Velus Jones – 25 yr old rookie— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) October 14, 2022
With Harry being worked into the passing offense slowly, the acquisition of Claypool, and Pringle returning from injury, Fields will have four proven veteran wide receivers to throw to for the remainder of the season. Although St. Brown and Pettis proved reliable at times, they are better featured in limited roles at the position, while Jones can be used in a package of play to take advantage of his elite speed.
Although it will take Claypool a few weeks to be completely integrated into Chicago’s offense, Getsy now has more weapons in the passing offense to work with. Fields’ improved accuracy and ability to create open passing targets with his threat to run with the ball becomes even more intriguing, with veteran pass-catchers capable of capitalizing with additional separation. Claypool has experience working with quarterbacks capable of extending passing plays with their feet, as he has played with Ben Roethlisberger and Mitchell Trubisky.
Pittsburgh #Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger finds WR Chase Claypool for a 29-yard TD#SteelersNation #HereWeGo #Touchdown #NFL #NFLTwitter pic.twitter.com/ucyC3gdUwo
— Gabriel Schray (@schrayguy) January 11, 2021
Bears Passing Offense Could Be Highly Productive As The Season Progresses
The Bears having more proven pass catchers with Claypool, Harry, and Pringle, will give Getsy and Fields a chance to improve on Chicago’s passing statistics as the team ranked at the bottom of most NFL categories. The Bears’ second-year quarterback has thrown for over 200 yards once this season, with the struggles at the receiver position being one of the reasons why. Against Dallas this past Sunday, Fields had three passes over 20 yards that could have been caught by his receivers, including drops by St. Brown and Jones.
If you wonder why Justin Fields' passing yards aren't higher, @AdamHoge has a huge reason why pic.twitter.com/gFvMd7961m
— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) October 31, 2022
Having two proven starters in Claypool and Mooney on the outside will enable Getsy to play Pringle and Pettis in the slot while utilizing Harry and St Brown’s size for favorable matchups. Additionally, having more talented wide receivers will limit opposing defenses’ ability to double-team any specific Bears’ pass-catcher, something that was seen frequently at the beginning of the season. Claypool and Harry’s presence could lead to Mooney having more opportunities to make big plays downfield.
The Bears’ offense will have a chance to improve from a passing standpoint over the next three weeks as their next several opponents have struggled in defending against the pass. The Dolphins, Lions, and Falcons have all had multiple games this season in which their defense let an opposing quarterback throw for over 300 yards. Fields has yet to throw for 300 yards in a game in his young career but could have a chance to record his first 300-yard passing game in one of his next three starts.
Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined have 10 catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns — 18 1/2 minutes into the game.
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) October 30, 2022
Trading for Claypool, along with Harry and Pringle returning from injuries, has completely revamped the Bears’ wide receiver position. Fields has a better chance immediately to grow as a passing quarterback over the next several games because of the increased talent level at the pass-catching group. Although the numbers Bears’ receivers were generating at the beginning of the season were frighteningly bad, the position could create fear for opposing defenses later this season.
ok, bro, it’s been 3 weeks and none of that shit has happened. maybe the bears know A LOT more about what’s going on in their building than you. ya think?
that’s a lot of words, bro! however, dumb fans like me really like those TDs
mooney 0 TDs
claypool 1 TD
pettis 2 TDs
First round receiver in either 23 or 24 draft and Bears may actually have something brewing. Strengthen the trenches through free agency and complement a few skill players (Moreau, Gesicki, Howard).
Don’t forget about N’keal Harry guys. He may be a steal. NE has a history of not developing rookie WR’s very well. So I’m hoping the Bears coaches can unlock what NE couldn’t. He’s got way too much natural athletic ability to give up on so soon.
Maybe a missed bonus….Make the run game even more effective! No more stacking the box because of the speed with decent hands that can’t all be doubled. We’ve played with huge handcuffs on until now. IF! (huge if) we can find some of these guys downfield with some consistancy the opponents will simply have to respect JF1’s ability to put the ball downfield (again with the big IF the O-line will block)