Bringing In a Skilled Veteran Receiver
If the Bears are going to get the very best from Chase Claypool they can, they may need to provide a little push.
There are few receivers in the league as physically gifted as Claypool, who is 238 pounds, 6-foot-4, ran 4.42 seconds in the 40 and had a 40 1/2-inch vertical leap.
His production and attitude have frequently been the question, and the slow start he got off to last year with the Bears when joining at the midpoint had Steelers fans laughing about how they picked GM Ryan Poles' pocket in the trade for the 32nd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Claypool has vowed to get together with Justin Fields in the offseason, improve the connection and his knowledge of the offense.
It's going to take overcoming an established reputation.
Former Steelers great Hines Ward during a Super Bowl week interview with Steelers Talk's Harrison Graham expressed the thought Claypool is too selfish as a player.
"Sometimes I think with Chase, it became more about Chase and less about the team," Ward said in the interview. "I've always believed that the team comes first before any individual accolades. A little more maturity level on his part."
Claypool has fought back against being labeled this way in the past, like when he was blasted by Steeler fans for costing the team time by celebrating a first down in the closing seconds with the clock running against Minnesota.
Claypool has expressed utmost confidence in himself in the past, particularly on an "I am Athlete" podcast.
"I know for a fact I am not like the rest of the guys in the NFL," he said. "I know I'm a top-five receiver. I know I'm a top-three receiver."
He meant in the league, not on his team.
So if this is even close to being true, it's incumbent upon the Bears to bring the best out of Claypool by supplying real competition. In essence, they need to draw it out of him by lighting a fire under him.
It's possible this will happen with the 2023 season being a contract year for Claypool.
However, the Bears could make bringing it out of Claypool easier if a higher quality veteran receiver or two are available so he must battle for targets in games and even practices .
In the course of doing it, they could even find they like those other veterans. The ideal situation would be signing one to a one-year prove-it type of deal and let them compete with Claypool for the right to stay.
Maybe both will succeed. Maybe neither will. Maybe Claypool will show what the coaches believe he has in him.
Last year the Bears receiver corps had several extra veterans but these were barely above minimum wage types who never really established themselves in the league to a great extent.
This free agency period could include several free agent veterans who could come in at reasonable rates to a team with plenty of cash.
The list might even grow as more salary cuts get made heading toward the March 15 deadline to comply with the cap, so we'll include receivers who appear potential cap cuts.
Michael Thomas
It's been three years since he was healthy. That's forever in the NFL, and he's over 30 this season. Still, the idea of Thomas might be the best for this situation if he signed for one year. PFF calls his rate at $12.5 million for a one-year deal. Thomas can be the X-receiver who competes with Claypool. He can be a contributor in many ways a wise veteran capable of playing any receiver position. His four straight years of 1,137 yards and 92 catches or more say plenty for his ability when he was healthy. But there is no Drew Brees or Sean Payton in Chicago. He could compensate for a lot by signing for one year. Thomas did have his contract restructured, but it was to make it so when he is cut the team won't be on the hook for too much money. So his departure seems assured.
Robert Woods
Fresh off being cut by the Titans on Wednesday, Woods was a player who was linked to the Bears through trade last year before the trade deadline through unsubstantiated rumor. Then they traded for Claypool. A 6-foot, 195-pounder, he's 31 this season and also would probably be open to a one-year deal at this point. He was coming off ACL surgery last year. Woods is a few years removed from numbers like his 936-yard 2020 season with the Rams and two prior successive years with 1,000-yard output.
Odell Beckham Jr.
Talk about long shots. Once Beckham was an easy call for a team to sign but knee surgeries and now more than year away from the game and he's 30 this year. His last 1,000-yard season was 2019. Even after all of this, PFF says he'll get a deal for three years and $11 million a year. That multiyear deal isn't going to do it in Chicago.
D.J. Chark
Detroit's free agent had injuries last year and played just 11 games, making 30 catches for 502 yards and three touchdowns. It's projected by Pro Football Focus he'll get three years and $11.67 million, which is a little rich and long term for a receiver in this situation. He definnitely is capable, though, and is just 26.
Kenny Gollday
He is still with the Giants, though was he really ever? This hasn't been the same player since leaving Detroit. The Giants will be eating a huge amount of cap space by cutting him, $14.7 million. But they can save back $6.7 million when tehy get rid of him. The odds favor his departure. A former Northern Illinois player, he comes back to the NFC North with a chance to Illinois and has a one-year chance to prove himself by competing with Claypool.
Corey Davis
This may or may not happen but his departure from the Jets has been reported by The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt as likely. He becomes a spare part with offensive rookie of the year Garrett Wilson emerging and also because of the $10.5 million in cap space his departure creates. And like with Golladay, he is a player with ties here to Chicago. He played high school ball at Wheaton-Warrenville South. He's another X-type who would be perfect to compete on a one-year deal with Claypool and maybe even beat him out to stay.
Robbie Anderson
He's changed his name to Chosen. He went to the Cardinals and had a contract giving him $12 million a year but it's safe to say a new regime will want a better use of its funds. The Bears could consider him if they're looking for great speed and breakaway ability.
Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven
