Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel on trading for Chase Claypool: 'Chance to make us better'
Chase Claypool had clearly become a distraction of sorts in Chicago as of late as the Bears traded him to Miami on Friday. While some might see that as a risk by the Dolphins, Mike McDaniel sees this as their team turning one franchise’s trash into their own treasure.
McDaniels addressed the trade for Claypool, a fourth-year receiver who was previously with Pittsburgh before his 10-game stint with the Bears, in his press conference just hours after the deal. He said the fact of the matter is that Miami saw it as an opportunity to improve themselves and, for nothing more than a sixth-round pick, they elected to pull the trigger.
“You have to stay steadfast to the commitment of making your team as good as it could be,” said McDaniel. “Sometimes things come across your radar that you weren’t even looking for but, when you assess it, if it falls under the category ‘This has a chance to make us better’? Then you jump on that.”
Claypool, a former second-round pick in 2020 out of Notre Dame, has 171 catches in his career. Those have led to 2,235 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. However, each of those numbers have drastically decreased in each and every season.
In three appearances with Chicago this year, Claypool caught just four of his 14 targets for 51 yards and one touchdown.
If there’s one team that could afford to take a shot on another weapon, it’s Miami. The NFL’s No. 1 offense is scoring 37.5 points per game with QB Tua Tagovailoa connecting with the duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle while Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane holding things down on the ground.
If Claypool, a productive enough receiver in his time in the pros, is Miami’s third-best wide receiver, this transaction could end up going from big swing to home run for the Dolphins. That’s at least how McDaniels and the front office sees it based on the move that they made today.
More on Chicago trading Chase Claypool to Miami
Chase Claypool, the disgruntled Chicago Bears receiver, is headed to the Dolphins in a swap of low-round draft picks.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported the news, quoting unidentified league sources. She said the Dolphins are sending the Bears a 2025 sixth-round pick for Claypool. The Bears are also sending the Dolphins a seventh-round draft pick from 2025 as part of the deal.
The trade certainly wasn’t surprising. The Bears listed Claypool as inactive for the past two games. Bears management told Claypool on Monday that he wouldn’t be playing and asked him to stay away from the team.
“I think Chase is going to learn from this situation. We all will. I wish him luck moving forward throughout his career,” Chicago GM Ryan Poles said in a pregame interview on Thursday.
Overall, Chase Claypool played 10 games with the Bears. He caught 18 passes for 191 yards after being targeted 43 times.