Steelers Earn ‘A’ Grade in Chase Claypool Trade

The Chase Claypool trade from the Steelers’ point of view is done. With Claypool now out of Chicago and in Miami, Omar Khan, and the front office can look back on the trade fondly. ESPN revisited the trades from last year’s trade deadline, and the Claypool trade came up. Pittsburgh initially earned an A- grade, but even that got bumped up, given how well the trade ended up going for them.

For the Bears, they initially had a D+ grade, but that has ended up as an F grade. Seth Walder bumped Pittsburgh’s grade up from an A- to an A following the completion of the trade.

“The Steelers didn’t need to trade Claypool, but they were able to capitalize on Chicago’s desperation,” Walder wrote. “Thanks to Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, the Steelers had the receiver depth necessary to make this trade. It looked like a great move at the time. And when Claypool failed to produce at all in Chicago, it appeared even better.”

The Bears sent Claypool and a 2025 seventh-round draft pick to Miami in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick. Chase Claypool is in the final year of his rookie contract that he signed with the Steelers and will be a free agent at the end of the season.

That pick turned into standout rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who the Steelers took with the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. To say the least, that ended up as a big win for the team. Claypool’s tenure with the Bears went about as poorly as possible. In the ten games he suited up with the Bears, the team went 0-10. He caught 18 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown in those ten games.

With the Bears, Claypool suffered injuries and generally never seemed to fit in with the group. Now, with the Dolphins, head coach Mike McDaniel can try to maximize his talents. There was some speculation that Claypool could end up playing some tight end in Miami, but McDaniel noted clearly that he is a wide receiver with the Dolphins. In an ideal spot, the Dolphins hope they can unlock the potential they saw in Claypool during his early tenure in Pittsburgh.