The Bills announced on Friday that Chase Claypool, formerly a wide receiver for the Bears, has agreed to a one-year contract with them. Claypool, aged 25, had brief stints with the Bears spanning two half seasons.
Initially acquired by the Bears from the Steelers in a trade involving a second-round pick during the 2022 NFL trade deadline, Claypool’s performance was modest. In his seven-game tenure with the Bears, he managed to make 14 receptions for 140 yards. The team attributed his underwhelming debut to a learning curve, citing his unfamiliarity with the playbook and lack of synchronization with quarterback Justin Fields.
New faces in Buffalo. 😁
We’ve signed WR Chase Claypool, DE Dawuane Smoot and LB Deion Jones to one-year contracts: https://t.co/1hRQbrkvCY pic.twitter.com/X9aKzbPzZW
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) May 3, 2024
However, Claypool’s struggles persisted into his second season with the Bears. With only three games played, he secured four receptions for 51 yards and one touchdown. Additionally, his presence reportedly had a detrimental impact on team morale, prompting the Bears to sideline him early in the season while they sought a trade.
In October 2023, the Bears traded Claypool to the Dolphins, including a 2025 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick. This move was seen as a rare misstep for general manager Ryan Poles. Despite his brief stint with the Dolphins spanning nine games, Claypool failed to make a significant impact.
Speculation arose during the offseason that Claypool might pursue a career in the Canadian Football League. However, the Bills, facing a shortage of receivers, opted to sign him to a one-year contract.
Claypool will now join a Buffalo receiving corps that includes rookie Keon Coleman, selected as the No. 33 pick in the draft, along with Quintez Cephus, KJ Hamler, and Curtis Samuel, forming what is perceived as a less potent group of receivers.
