Chicago Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Chase Claypool trade keeps looking better for Steelers

By Aaron Becker | Last updated Sep 11, 2023 1:04 PM ET

The Steelers traded WR Chase Claypool to the Bears for pick No. 32 last season. Although Pittsburgh already seems to be running away as the winner of the deal, Claypool's Week 1 performance only further proves the point.

Claypool, a second-round pick in 2020, once again underwhelmed with Chicago to start the season. In Week 1, he was targeted twice and finished the game with zero catches and zero yards.

However, it does not end there. Claypool, a 6-foot-4, 238-pound wide receiver, also got blown up by Packer's Keisean Nixon, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound cornerback, in a play that resulted in a large loss of yardage.

Chase Claypool is listed at 6-foot-4, 238 pounds. Keisean Nixon is listed at 5-foot-10, 200 pounds.

Nixon blows up this play by fighting through Claypool's block and slams down Darnell Mooney.

Mooney could've used some help on the block and getting off the ground. pic.twitter.com/NJlUeNgwr3
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) September 11, 2023

Kyle Brandt of NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" has since gone off on Claypool, although he doesn't mention him by name.

"There is a player for the Chicago Bears who I'm not going to mention. I don't know what he's doing out there. He certainly doesn't look like he wants to be out there," Brandt said. "If you watched five seconds of this game, you know who I'm talking about. I don't know what this player is doing, but I know he's not trying, and I don't know if he's going to be out there much longer."

The Bears have yet to win a game since acquiring Claypool from the Steelers. In his eight games with Chicago, he has 14 catches for 140 yards and zero touchdowns.

Of course, we must wait and see how the No. 32 overall pick from the 2023 NFL Draft, CB Joey Porter Jr., turns out as there is a lot of season left. But all signs seem to be pointing in Pittsburgh's favor.

Aaron Becker

Aaron Becker is a Pittsburgh-based sports journalist, primarily covering the NFL and college football. He previously worked for the Kansas City Chiefs (2021-22), Pittsburgh Steelers (2019-21) and University of Pittsburgh (2018-19). Becker has a B

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