The Miami Dolphins made a trade on Friday, acquiring wide receiver Chase Claypool and a 2025 seventh-round pick from the Chicago Bears for a 2025 sixth-round selection.
After the trade was announced Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was asked about the move during his regular media availability, and he shared the team’s thinking in making a move.
“That’s an exciting opportunity,” McDaniel said. “It’s kind of like Christmas, in terms of I don’t know anything. So, when Chris (Grier) comes to me about something that he has on the docket, we have good discussions. For us, it felt like a situation where there might be a role to carve out for him. I think, for the player, you have a guy who wants to take things into his own hands and have an opportunity to be on a team. To me, beyond that, it was an opportunity to take advantage of. We definitely weren’t looking for receiver help. It wasn’t in that nature at all. (We’re) very very happy with our receiver core. I think one thing that Chris and I have always agreed upon, how we operate and do business is you have to stay steadfast to the commitment of making your team as good as it can be…”
McDaniel also spoke specifically about Claypool and what it is that he can bring to the table for his team.
“He’s fast,” McDaniel said. “You’re very open-minded to the unique attributes of a guy that comes into the league and generally you don’t see that often receivers gain a reputation through special teams and then develop. As a receiver, there’s a multitude of ways that he’s contributed…”
In 49 games across four seasons, Claypool has recorded 171 receptions for 2,235 yards and 13 touchdowns. However, a majority of that came in his first two seasons.
Since the start of 2022, he’s recorded 50 catches for 502 yards and two scores.