NFL teams believe Bears will end up releasing Chase Claypool

The belief around the league is the Bears will release Chase Claypool, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool’s future in Chicago remains in limbo following a rocky start to the 2023 season.

Claypool was a healthy scratch last Sunday, and he was asked to stay home by the Bears. Not to mention, Claypool was asked not to be at Halas Hall this week ahead of Thursday’s game against the Commanders.

The writing is on the wall: Claypool’s done in Chicago.

The only question now is whether general manager Ryan Poles can snag a late-round pick for Claypool instead of releasing him.

ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler revealed that teams he talked with believe the Bears will release Claypool, which could mean Poles might wind up getting nothing after trading a high-value pick for him.

Perhaps Chicago can salvage a late-round pick to send Claypool to his third team in two years. But teams I’ve talked to believe the Bears will end up releasing him, which would mean he’d outstayed his welcome in two spots (Chicago and Pittsburgh).

The Bears sent their 2023 second-round pick — which turned into No. 32 overall — to the Pittsburgh Steelers last November for Claypool. It’s safe to say this trade will go down as the worst move in Poles’ tenure.