Steelers Trade Chase Claypool to Chicago Bears

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, according to multiple media reports.

The Steelers received a second-round pick from the Bears in compensation, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the pick was the Bears’ second-round pick and not the one that Baltimore Ravens sent to Chicago in exchange for inside linebacker Roquan Smith on Monday.

The team’s second-round draft pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, Claypool played in 39 games and made 27 starts. He caught 153 passes for 2,044 yards and had 12 receiving touchdowns.

After spending his first two seasons mostly an outside receiver, the Steelers moved Claypool to the slot this season, but the experiment did not seem to be working. He was in the middle of his least-productive season to date, with 32 catches for 311 yards and one touchdown at the season’s midpoint.

Claypool expressed his frustration over the failings of the offense after the team’s loss to Miami in Week 7, saying that he “hasn’t gotten a deep ball all season.”

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Claypool is under contract through the end of the 2023 season. His trade will save the Steelers the prorated portion of his $1.5 million salary, and create a $593,025 dead cap charge, according to OvertheCap.com.

The NFL’s trade deadline is at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Claypool practiced with the team on Tuesday and spoke to reporters, including Steelers Now’s Hunter Homistek, after the practice session.