There are numerous cases in NFL history of incredible athletes who reach the pro level but never realize their potential. Most of the time, this is due to one of two reasons: injuries or a lack of personal drive to be great. The Chicago Bears aren’t strangers to this phenomenon. Several prominent names who never lived up to the hype have come through their doors via draft pick or trade. At the top of that list, at least in the past ten years, has to be wide receiver Chase Claypool.
Chicago sent a 2nd round to the Pittsburgh Steelers for him in 2022. The justification was obvious. Justin Fields desperately needed another weapon. Claypool was big and fast and showed he could be productive early in his career. It was a disaster. He never even eclipsed 200 total receiving yards and was traded after barely a year. Since then, Claypool found himself mustered out of the league. Despite only being 26 years old, teams haven’t been calling. So he took to social media with a message.
It was about what you’d expect from him.
“I have been rehabbing, working out, and recovering every day for the past year. I am back to being the strongest and fastest l’ve ever been and couldn’t be more excited to step back out on the field and let my actions speak for themselves. I deeply and truly believe that the pieces will align, and **I will work my way into the position to show off what’s been suppressed these last two years.**”
As always, Chase Claypool doesn’t understand accountability.
That last line summed everything up perfectly. He was never the problem in Chicago or Miami. The coaches, systems, and cultures were the issue. If only he’d been used properly, people would see how great he is. Seeing that makes it easier to understand than ever that Chase Claypool is his own worst enemy. He expects everybody else to do the work for him. Talent isn’t the problem. Just look at him, right? Nobody is better than him. He only needs a chance (and a perfect situation) to prove it.
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Such a shock that no other teams are willing to give him one. The wide receiver is toxic. His love of football is lukewarm at best. He merely sees it as an avenue to money and fame. Teams usually catch on to that within a few years and stop believing the talent is worth the risk. Claypool has reached that point.