Chase Claypool Is Reportedly Lighting It Up at Bills OTAs
Former Steelers’ second-round pick Chase Claypool’s career is at a crossroads after fizzling out with Pittsburgh, the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins. The Buffalo Bills could be his last chance, or the next opportunity will be in the Canadian Football League.
So far, Chase Claypool is taking full advantage of the opportunity with Buffalo. According to Matt Parino of New York Upstate, he’s been turning heads at Bills OTAs.
“Claypool has been the Bills’ most consistent receiver during OTAs and is setting the stage for what should be a run at the 53-man roster,” Parino said. “He made the most explosive play of the day, catching a deep bomb from backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky during 11-on-11. Once he gets past his defender, it’s hard for the safeties to catch up and rookie Cole Bishop learned that lesson on the play, which would have gone for a touchdown in a game.”
Claypool broke out in his rookie year with the Steelers in 2020, recording 62 receptions for 873 yards (14.1 average) and nine touchdowns. He also had two rushing touchdowns. It’s been all downhill since, however.
The Steelers traded Claypool to Chicago on Nov. 1, 2022 in exchange for the Bears’ second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. His tenure with the Bears went about as poorly as possible. In the 10 games he suited up with the Bears, the team went 0-10. He caught a total of 18 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown in those 10 games.
After less than a year with the team, Chicago dealt Claypool to Miami, which was also an uneventful experience. Claypool recorded just eight receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown in eight games with the Dolphins.
Claypool is looking forward to having a clean state in Buffalo. He called it an ‘amazing opportunity.’
“Buffalo gives me an opportunity to work as hard as I can and make the people around me proud,” Claypool said, via the Bills official team website. ”
“I understand my situation. I understand any opportunity I have to help the team win, I need to jump on that opportunity. Special teams is one of those things. If I am on all four units, that’s amazing, because that means I’m helping the team in some way.”
Claypool is willing to put his hand in the pile and contribute on special teams, as well.
“I was back on special teams last year, and I realized how much I loved it, even if it’s something maybe I didn’t necessarily want to do at the time,” Claypool said. “Now, I do want to do it. I love it, I think from my Notre Dame days, that’s carried over.”
“I went from being a starter playing every play to going to Miami and really not playing at all. “When I did get the opportunity to be out there, I loved it, even if that was kick return, kickoff.”
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