Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football … [+] game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reservedRyan Poles is calling the question on Chase Claypool.
The Bears have agreed to trade the unhappy, unproductive wide receiver to one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses. If Claypool develops into a third option for Tua Tagovailoa it will leave Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus with even more egg on their face for sending a second-round pick to Pittsburgh for Claypool a year ago.
Poles completed a deal with Miami shortly after his Bears ended a 14-game losing streak with a 40-20 victory over Washington on Thursday Night Football. The deal gives the Bears a swap of late-round picks, according to Dianna Russini of the Athletic. She reports Chicago receives a 2025 sixth-round pick from Miami for Claypool and a 2025 seventh-rounder.
Poles added Claypool to give Justin Fields a No. 2 wide receiver to target behind Darnell Mooney. But Claypool wound up making only 18 catches for 191 yards and one touchdown in 10 games. He was not only inactive for the Bears’ last two games but the team ordered him to stay away from the team. Claypool had criticized the team for how it was using him.
Without Claypool as a target, Fields passed for 617 yards and eight touchdowns against Washington and Denver. Tight end Cole Kmet was Fields’ second option behind D.J. Moore, who had 16 catches for 361 yards and four touchdowns.
Claypool appealed to Miami as a depth piece behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Former Jet Braxton Berrios has been the Dolphins’ third receiver, catching 13 passes for 146 yards and one touchdown in four games.
The Dolphins are currently leading the NFL with 37.5 points and 511 yards per game. Those totals were inflated with the 70-point output against Denver in Week 3. They lost to Buffalo in Week 4, with Berrios receiving a team-high six targets.
Tagovailoa enters Week 5 as the leader in passing yards per game (1306) and was second to San Francisco’s Brock Purdy in quarterback rating. He is averaging 9.6 yards per completion.
Claypool looked like a difference-maker as a rookie with the Steelers in 2020. He had steadily regressed over the last three seasons but the Dolphins like his talent enough to give him another chance.
It’s a great landing spot for Claypool. On the other side of Friday’s deal, Poles at least got something for Claypool rather than simply releasing him. The Bears will save about $2 million in salary.