The last 48 hours or so have been filled with a lot of jokes at the expense of Chase Claypool.
And you know what? Fair enough. This is a guy who really fell hard to Earth after having a terrific rookie season. He infamously called himself a top three receiver in the game ahead of the 2022 season, and got traded that year from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Chicago Bears.
After bouncing from Chicago to Miami to free agency, the Bills signed the former second-round pick on Friday.
And while fans were groaning when they heard the news, this is a good move by the Bills. Is Chase Claypool going to all of a sudden turn into Justin Jefferson or Ja'Marr Chase? Probably not. However, look at his first two seasons in the NFL when his quarterback was Ben Roethlisberger instead of Kenny Pickett:
- 121 catches
- 1,733 yards
- 11 touchdowns
That's really solid production. The Bills just need to use him correctly. Despite being 6-foot-4, Claypool is not a downfield threat. He doesn't win 50-50 balls, he isn't outjumping guys- for some reason, that's just not his strength. If Buffalo uses him as a big possession receiver, though, he can have a role in the offense.
Run some tunnel screens with him where no one will bring him down after first contact. Utilize him as a power slot guy on short-yardage situations. There are ways to use him that can bring success. Is he going to be Jerry Rice? No. Does he have a higher ceiling than Mack Hollins? Absolutely.
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