Chase Claypool Blames Steelers for Struggles in NFL

The Pittsburgh Steelers made things difficult, according to Chase Claypool.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers made a change in the middle of last season to end Chase Claypool's tenure with the team and instead add a draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. So, general manager Omar Khan made the trade to swap the 32nd pick for Claypool with the Chicago Bears. 

At first glance, the trade seemed like a win for Pittsburgh. The Steelers drafted Joey Porter Jr. with the first pick in the second round, while Claypool struggled to catch on in his first season with the Bears. 

After finishing his first eight games in Chicago with 14 receptions for 140 yards, reports emerged that the team was worried about where he was mentally. 

I have heard from a few people inside that building that he is not somebody who is very self-motivated," ESPN's Marc Silverman said earlier in the offseason. 

But Claypool believes this season is going to be his best. Speaking with Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times, Claypool said 2023 is the "biggest year of my life." 

"You want to prove everyone [in the building] right," Claypool said. "You also want to prove everyone [outside] wrong. That’s my thing."

The former Steelers second-round pick and Leiser spoke about his time in Pittsburgh, acknowledging that the struggles were more about his usage. 

"The problems last season were that the Steelers shifted him to a suboptimal role at slot receiver, then it was difficult for him to grasp the Bears’ offense on the fly," Leiser writes. "Between the two, he had career lows in catches (46), yards (451) and touchdowns (one)."

That is expected to change this season, and Claypool believes it makes him a more dangerous receiver. Something he'll be able to showcase in his first full year with the Bears. 

"When you're more confident in the system, you play faster, make plays, feel good about it, have fun with your teammates more," Claypool said. "Last season had ebbs and flows. I was making the best of any situation I could, trying to make plays no matter where I was on the field, looking at the positive side of things. It's tough mentally."

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