The Chicago Bears’ upper management had one clear message for general manager Ryan Poles after his deal for wide receiver Chase Claypool backfired in the midst of the 2023 season: “Keep shooting your shot, man.”
Poles thanked Bears chairperson George McCaskey and team president Kevin Warren for their “leadership” and “support” throughout the 2023 season at the opening remarks of his January 10 end-of-season press conference.
Poles also mentioned a specific moment during the year that he will “never forget,” when he had a vote of confidence from his managers after “a trade that didn’t go well” for him, referring to the Claypool trade without saying it directly.
“[McCaskey and Warren] support our vision,” said Poles. “One of the things I’ll never forget is reflecting on a trade that didn’t go well for me in the middle of the year.” I was disappointed and took responsibility for it. I keep a decision log that I look through and discuss how I may improve. And we talked about it, and they both told me, ‘Keep shooting your shot, man.’
‘If you put your log together, you’re hitting those boxes that feel correct, and it’s going to benefit our team, so keep shooting your shot,’ says the coach. That kind of support for a decision-maker is remarkable.”
Chase Claypool has been a disaster for the Bears.
The Bears were confident in their decision to acquire Claypool ahead of the 2023 season. The second-round pick they paid to acquire him from the Pittsburgh Steelers was higher than they anticipated — No. 33 overall — but they believed they had avoided the free agent market by acquiring a competent starter for Year 2 of their reconstruction.
Instead, Claypool brought a difficult mentality to the Bears, putting in obviously low effort in games and making sarcastic statements to the media in the locker room regarding the coaches and his place in the offense. In the first three games, he caught four catches for 51 yards and a score until the Bears got bored of him and made him a healthy inactive.
Poles deserves credit for recognizing he’d made a mistake with Claypool and acting quickly to remedy matters when it became clear Claypool would not work out for the Bears. He dealt him and a seventh-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for a sixth-round pick only one day after Chicago defeated Washington and stopped a 14-game losing streak.
Still, the sunk cost stings. With the second-round pick they gave up for Claypool, the Bears could have gotten a good rookie on a four-year deal. They could have gotten another pass catcher with the choice, as Jayden Reed, Rashee Rice, Marvin Mims Jr., and Tank Dell were all still available at No. 33 overall.
At the very least, Poles can rest assured that the Dolphins did not solve the secret and discover a way to maximize Claypool’s potential. During the regular season, he appeared in nine games for Miami and caught four passes for 26 yards and one first down.
For the 2024 season, the Bears must add more wide receivers.
The Bears will be looking for extra receiving help during the 2024 offseason for reasons other than Claypool. After an outstanding first season in Chicago in 2023, they have DJ Moore locked up as their No. 1 receiver, but Darnell Mooney and Equanimeous St. Brown are both set to become free agents in March.
If neither is extended, the Bears would enter 2024 free agency with a receiving corps comprised of Moore, Tyler Scott, and Velus Jones Jr., which is undeniable for a team aiming to improve on its 7-10 record in 2023.
Fortunately, the Bears are in a terrific position to make receiver investments. The fans’ preferred method of upgrading the position is to use one of their first-round picks — Nos. 1 and 9 overall — on one of the best talents in the 2024 NFL draft class. If they want to target a receiver with their first choice, Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. makes the most sense, especially if they opt not to take a quarterback and trade down to second or third overall.
If they decide to spend the No. 1 selection on a quarterback and want a receiver at No. 9, they also have high-level alternatives in LSU’s Malik Nabers and Washington’s Rome Odunze.
There are a few notable names in the 2024 free agency class as well. If the Buffalo Bills do not re-sign Gabe Davis, he may be the most intriguing veteran on the market, but Minnesota’s K.J. Osborn is also appealing if they are seeking for someone who can bring experience while not demanding the No. 2 spot from a highly heralded rookie.
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