Chase Claypool is moving to the Windy City.
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Tuesday (Nov. 1) that the former Abbotsford Panthers football star has been dealt to the Chicago Bears for a second-round draft pick.
The trade will now team Claypool up with Bears third-year quarterback Justin Fields - a first-round draft pick by Chicago in the 2021 NFL Draft. Claypool will now become one of Field’s top targets and likely slotted as the team’s number one wide receiver.
BREAKING: Bears trading for Steelers WR Chase Claypool in exchange for a 2023 second-round pick. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/teoP4wiQqE
— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2022
In Chase Claypool, the Bears acquire a 24-year old WR who is under contract through 2023 and had 10 TDs as a rookie. He’s a big-body vertical threat that could soon become Chicago’s WR1.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 1, 2022
An upside player with plenty of talent that fills a major need.
The '23 2nd-rounder the Bears are sending to Pittsburgh for Chase Claypool is the one they acquired from Baltimore for Roquan Smith. So they get Claypool (1.5 years left on his contract) for Smith (.5 years left on his contract) and a 5.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) November 1, 2022
Chicago still has its own second-rounder.
Chicago is currently tied for second in the NFC North and have a record of 3-5. The Bears next host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday (Nov. 6). Claypool will now become more familiar with the Bears traditional rivals - the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions.
This season has seen Claypool put up his lowest numbers to date, with 311 yards receiving and one touchdown in eight games. His rookie season in 2020 saw the Abbotsford Senior Secondary School grad collect 873 yards and nine receiving touchdowns, while in 2021 he recorded 860 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
RELATED: Abbotsford’s Claypool drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Claypool was a second round draft pick by the Steelers in 2020 and also played four years of college football with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
He still has one more year more remaining on his current contract after this season.
Claypool made headlines this past Sunday (Oct. 30) by becoming the first person from B.C. to throw a touchdown in the Steelers 35-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
