The Dolphins have traded for embattled Chicago Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool, the team announced Friday.
The Dolphins will send a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Bears for Claypool and a 2025 seventh-round pick.
The trade comes one week after the Dolphins placed wide receivers River Cracraft and Erik Ezukanma on injured reserve and the non-football injury list, respectively, although coach Mike McDaniel said the team wasn’t necessarily looking for help at the position. When Claypool was made available by the Bears, McDaniel and Dolphins general manager Chris Grier believed it provided an opportunity to improve the team.
Claypool, 25, spent less than a year with the Bears, who traded a second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 1 to get him. Claypool ended up playing 10 games in Chicago over two seasons, totaling 18 receptions for 191 yards and one touchdown. The Bears are saving an estimated $2.2 million against the salary cap by trading Claypool.
On Sept. 29, the wide receiver expressed frustration with how he was being used in Chicago’s offense, and he was inactive after being told by the team not to attend the Week 4 game against the Denver Broncos. Chicago team officials then told Claypool on Monday that he would be inactive against Washington and requested that he remain away from the team while it prepared for the Commanders.
Ahead of the Bears’ 40-20 win over the Commanders on Thursday, general manager Ryan Poles expressed disappointment in how things had unfolded with Claypool less than a year after taking a big swing to land the former second-round pick to aid in the development of quarterback Justin Fields.
The Dolphins own the NFL’s top passing offense in yards per game and yards per play, led by receivers Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Braxton Berrios. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Claypool gives Miami a physical presence at receiver that it currently lacks.
McDaniel said he was aware of Claypool’s purported character concerns but is offering the Notre Dame product a clean slate.