The Green Bay Packers hosted a surprising but noteworthy guest during last week’s tryouts. Wide receiver Chase Claypool, a former second-round pick and draft crush of Brian Gutekunst, made his first go at an NFL return in Green Bay.
While neither Claypool nor the eight other tryout players made the roster, it’s the beginning of a potential redemption story for the former 2020 draft pick.
Claypool’s career took a turn for the worse when the Chicago Bears made a better offer than Green Bay. Out of the league since 2023, Claypool’s road back to being an NFL player, let alone a star, is a tumultuous one.
While it hasn’t gone anywhere yet, being the first team to work with Claypool through this comeback was a savvy, low-risk, high-reward move for the Packers, worth monitoring throughout the offseason.
Chase Claypool was fascinating as a draft prospect. Not many receivers have the size and speed combination Claypool offered: 6’4”, 238 lbs., and a Looney Tunes-style jaw-dropping 9.98 Relative Athletic Score.
The Packers liked Claypool and potentially even considered him in the first round of the 2020 draft, where they ultimately selected Jordan Love. Claypool could easily have been the team’s second-round pick. However, he went to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 49, well ahead of Green Bay, which had the 62nd pick.
Claypool lived up to the hype as a rookie, catching 62 balls for 873 yards and nine touchdowns. He looked like another Pittsburgh wide receiver success story.
But, as with many other star Pittsburgh receivers over the years, off-field concerns shadowed on-field success. After a second season and another 800 yards, the Steelers saw declining production, while growing concerns about his immaturity led them to unload Claypool while he still had draft value.
While he ultimately went to the Bears, Brian Gutekunst fought to bring him to the Packers, offering a second-round pick. A potential star wide receiver for the now ascending Jordan Love was an enticing thought. But the Bears also offered a second-round pick, and Pittsburgh rightfully believed Chicago’s pick would be higher than Green Bay’s.
It worked well for Green Bay in the long run. Claypool’s stint in Chicago was neither extended nor productive. Claypool played just 10 games for the Bears between the back half of 2022 and the front of 2023, totaling just 191 yards and one touchdown. Chicago quickly moved on from the sunk cost, trading Claypool to the Miami Dolphins for a sixth-round pick.
Claypool couldn’t stand out in Miami and signed with the Buffalo Bills for the 2024 season. However, an offseason toe injury led to an IR stint that never ended with an NFL comeback.
“I was the strongest, fastest, and most prepared I had ever been,” Claypool said about his opportunity with the Bills. “I was playing my best football — working my way up from LAST (14th) string to taking first-team reps by camp. Most of all, I was doing it with a group of guys I truly appreciated.”
Now healthy and ready to reclaim his career, Claypool’s first stop was with a team with known interest. The timing works well for both Claypool and the Packers.
The Packers have spread the ball around plenty in the Jordan Love era, but this is now the least crowded the room has ever been. Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks are gone, unlocking a slew of snaps. Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, and Jayden Reed are the top trio, and Tucker Kraft will see a healthy target share. Still, there’s much less proven depth beyond the top guys.
Savion Williams, 2025’s third-rounder, should get more of a chance as a rounded receiver. The Packers also acquired Skyy Moore in free agency with an eye toward special teams. Who knows what Bo Melton‘s primary position is in 2026, but he’ll almost certainly be catching meaningful balls for the offense at some point. Green Bay didn’t add to the group during the draft. There’s plenty of room for a promising add.
While Claypool’s career didn’t turn out as expected, the traits that made him appealing still shine. Big doesn’t get small, as they say.
“You guys saw him, right?” Matt LaFleur said. “He’s certainly had great film out there. He’s been productive. He looks like he’s in great shape. He’s big. We’ll see how it goes.”
It didn’t lead to a signing after the weekend, but networking doesn’t end after the conference. The Packers got the first look at this version of Claypool, and the dialogue is engaged. If Green Bay wants to revisit later this summer, they can offer a camp invite. A lot can happen between now and training camp.
Ultimately, this story could go nowhere. Not everyone gets a second chance, and true comebacks are rare in the NFL. But it’s a smart move for the Packers with no downside. If Chase Claypool comes back later and looks good, the Packers get a quality player. If not, there wasn’t a meaningful investment, and Green Bay isn’t any worse off.
