Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool hasn’t played in the NFL in nearly three years. But he will have an opportunity to make a return to the league this spring.
ESPN’s Matt Schneidman reported Friday that Claypool is at rookie minicamp for the Green Bay Packers on a tryout basis.
Claypool turned in a pair of 800-receiving seasons for the Steelers in 2020 and 2021. But he was truly a star just as a rookie. Claypool burst onto the scene after being a second-round pick in 2020 with 62 catches, 873 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
He also had two rushing scores during his first NFL campaign.
But he fell out of favor with the team, and the Steelers traded him to the Chicago Bears for a second-round pick in 2022. That selection famously became cornerback Joey Porter Jr. in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Claypool flamed out with the Bears. He had just 18 catches for 191 yards and a touchdown in 10 games with Chicago.
Claypool last played in an NFL regular season game with the Miami Dolphins during the 2023 campaign. He registered four catches for 26 yards in nine contests.
The Packers are holding their rookie minicamp on May 1 and 2.
WR Chase Claypool Trying Out for Green Bay Packers
Claypool experienced a rapid fall from grace in his NFL career.
During 2020, he appeared to be Pittsburgh’s next great Day 2 wide receiver. At the time, the Steelers had a long line of them from Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders to JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson.
But after finding the end zone regularly as a rookie, Claypool scored just two touchdowns in 2021. Then during the first half of 2022, he struggled without Ben Roethlisberger throwing him passes.
With Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett behind center, Claypool averaged 9.7 yards per reception in eight games to open 2022.
At the 2022 NFL trade deadline, the Steelers dealt Claypool to the Bears. It appeared to be a seller’s move, as the team began the season 2-6.
The end result, though, was one of the most lopsided trades in recent NFL history. The Bears finished with the worst record in the league, which meant their second-round choice to Pittsburgh was No. 32 overall (the Miami Dolphins forfeited their first-round pick).
Claypool was off the Bears roster through another trade less than a year after the Steelers dealt him. Even with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa playing well at the time, Claypool found no more success with the Dolphins.
The receiver joined the Buffalo Bills two years ago. The Bills waived Claypool because of an injury in August 2024.
Claypool wasn’t on an NFL roster at all during 2025.
Steelers WR Depth Chart in 2026 NFL Offseason
When the Steelers traded Claypool, they had long-term contracts with Johnson and George Pickens to be concerned about fitting under the team’s salary cap.
A year and a half later, the Steelers dealt Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. Flash forward another year, and the team had also traded Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys.
After parting with those previously promising young wideouts, the Steelers had receiver depth issues in 2024 and 2025. But the team’s wideout depth chart appears to be in much better shape this offseason.
The Steelers have brought in D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. the past two offseasons through trades. During the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Steelers also added Alabama receiver Germie Bernard.
Then on Day 3, the team selected wideout and returner Kaden Wetjen. The Steelers nabbed the Iowa product in the fifth round.
Those four wide receivers should combine with Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek for a much stronger group in 2026.
On their offseason roster, the Steelers also have receivers A.T. Perry, Cole Burgess, Brandon Johnson and Brandon Smith.
Former Steelers WR Chase Claypool Resurfaces in NFL With Tryout: Report