5 Reasons why the Chicago Bears did not overpay for Chase Claypool
Any fan would love to see the Chicago Bears draft a WR in 2023
As I mentioned, I am not fully in 2023 NFL Draft mode yet. However, there are four wide receivers currently in my first-round rankings and possibly a fifth. Outside of those four to five guys, the rest look similar to what we saw in 2022 — guys with potential but have many concerns. George Pickens was probably the one guy who had first-round talent, but his off-the-field demeanor was enough to keep teams away.
If the Chicago Bears draft a wide receiver in the first round, that would mean the wide receiver group would look something like this:
- 2023 1st-Round Pick
- Darnell Mooney
- Chase Claypool
- Velus Jones
- Bodies
Those first three on the depth chart would look very good in navy and orange next season, don’t you think? However, this trade for Claypool also means the team can shift away from need a little more and focus on the offensive line with their first-round pick instead.
The point is, that we all wanted the Chicago Bears to focus on receiver and offensive line early in the 2023 NFL Draft. Should they punt WR with the first round, there are not many rookie receivers I’d prefer in the second round over Chase Claypool — a 6’4″ receiver who has solid separation skills and brings the ability to catch contested footballs. He’s not old at all and most second-round rookies will take half a season to three years before they catch on or are declared a bust. This alone screams that this isn’t an overpay.
The potential is there. Now, it’s up to Luke Getsy and Justin Fields to keep unlocking this offense.