How the Chicago Bears can still win the Chase Claypool trade

The Chicago Bears are not looking good in the Chase Claypool deal.

General manager Ryan Poles traded with the Pittsburgh Steelers to get the wide receiver before last season’s trade deadline.

He was trying to give quarterback Justin Fields a fast, big wide receiving target. He is also, someone who was better than N’Keal Harry or Equanimeous St. Brown.

The problem was the injuries and not enough time for Fields and Claypool to develop chemistry led to Chase only catching 14 passes for 140 yards in seven games.

The Steelers received the Bears’ second-round pick that turned out to be the first selection in the second round. Normally the 32nd slot is the last pick of the first round but the Miami Dolphins had to forfeit their first pick this year.

Maybe Ryan Poles did not think the Chicago Bears would end up with the worst record when he made the deal last November.

It became a huge overpay considering Claypool was taken in the second round at pick 49 in the 2020 draft. One reason the Steelers parted ways with Claypool was that they drafted George Pickens in last year’s second round. He is a player many thought Poles should have taken last year.

That is right folks, the Steelers found a better receiver than Claypool with the No. 52 pick in last year’s draft. Then they ended up with a better second-round choice than where they drafted Chase. To top it off, the Bears got less than 200 yards and no touchdowns in the immediate return.

You can be excused if you want to roll your eyes. Especially since Claypool is being considered the MVP of the Steelers draft.

There is still time for the Chicago Bears to come out as the winner of this trade.

One way Ryan Poles can save face in this trade is if Claypool produces next season. It is not out of the question. He has an entire offseason to work with Fields to develop chemistry.

Claypool also can use the offseason to master his routes in Luke Getsy’s offense. NFL midseason trades tend to not have the same impact as they do in the NBA or MLB. That is why Poles does not regret making the trade.

Also, Fields has the chance to improve as a passer with the upgrades on the offensive line. He did not have a lot of time in the pocket for routes to develop because of poor pass protection. Poles added guard Nate Davis in free agency and right tackle Darnell Wright in the draft.

If Fields has more time in the pocket, he will have a chance to hit more on those big pass plays. Like Claypool, another offseason working in Getsy’s offense will give Fields a chance to get better.

Poles added D.J. Moore to the wide receiver room. That should help Claypool as it means Moore draws more attention from the defense.

The other way the Chicago Bears will win this trade is if Joey Porter Jr. turns out to be a bust. That is who the Steelers took with the No. 32 pick.

He is a talented cornerback and someone who could help the Bears’ secondary. He is more of a press corner and has never played in the slot, so he is limited. If he turns out to be a bust, then it does not matter that Poles gave up the pick because the Steelers got nothing on their return.

Time will tell who benefited from this trade. It could be both teams. It could be just one of them. If that is the case, let’s hope it is the Bears.