The Chase Claypool saga has finally come to an end for the Chicago Bears, as they’ve reaped the benefits of trading the wide receiver to the Miami Dolphins with a Day 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The draft picks will finalize an era for the Bears, who made one of the more head-scratching moves back at the trade deadline in 2022 when they moved a second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Claypool in an effort to bolster a depleted receiver core.
That move backfired, as Claypool caught just 18 passes for 191 yards over 10 games in Chicago before being traded again, making him a sunk cost for the Bears.
Let’s revisit the initial trade and what the Bears got from the Dolphins to move Claypool back in October of 2023.
Original Chase Claypool trade details between Bears and Dolphins
Dolphins receive: Chase Claypool, 2025 seventh-round pick
Bears receive: 2025 sixth-round pick
What did the Bears do with the pick from the Chase Claypool trade?
The Bears traded that sixth-round pick (originally from the Dolphins) to the Cleveland Browns last August, just before the season started. They received defensive tackle Chris Williams and a 2025 seventh-round pick in return in a move to shore up their depth on the interior.
Cleveland also traded the pick and the Seattle Seahawks took Kansas G Bryce Cabeldue with the 192nd over all pick.
How has Chris William performed for the Bears?
Williams played in all 17 games for the Bears in 2024, securing 23 tackles, three tackles for loss, and three sacks. He signed an original-round tender with the Bears this offseason, netting him a one-year, $3.26 million deal to return in 2025.
What did the Dolphins do with the pick from the Chase Claypool trade?
The Dolphins’ pick slots in at 224 overall. They selected Rutgers DT Kyonte Hamilton.
How did Dolphins and Bears fare from the Chase Claypool trade?
Looking at the full outcome of the trade, the deal may only be truly judged once the draft selections are made. But, from a value perspective, the Bears seem to have come out as winners.
Claypool did not have much production with the Dolphins. He played in nine games, catching four passes for 26 yards, and was not brought back the following offseason. Miami paid him $2.3 million for the trouble, too.
Williams, on the other hand, at least had some production as a regular piece on the defensive line for Chicago, accumulating three sacks and three tackles for loss while playing in all 17 games.
The late-round picks are now virtually the same, being just 12 spots away, so before seeing who was selected by both teams, the Bears are the winner in this trade, especially when you consider cash saved.
Winner: Bears