The Green Bay Packers are kicking off their on-field work for the 2026 offseason with a rookie minicamp, and there is one very notable name on the tryout list that nobody could have possibly expected to see.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers second-round pick Chase Claypool is participating in the Packers' rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, according to reports, and it's fair to say pretty much everyone had the same reaction when his name was dropped: What the...?
It's not uncommon for NFL teams to bring in veteran dart throws like this for their rookie minicamps, but Claypool is a bigger name than you will usually see, and even the remote possibility that it could work for the Packers would stick it to the Packers' rival Chicago Bears. And that alone makes the idea extremely worthwhile.
Chase Claypool trying out for the Packers is a potential gold mine for bragging rights over the Bears
Claypool hasn't played in the NFL since 2023, but was on a roster as recently as 2024 when he signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills. The Bills had Claypool on their roster all throughout training camp in 2024 before he suffered a torn ligament in his toe, was placed on IR, and then released with an injury settlement.
There was once a time when Claypool actually looked like he was going to be one of the up-and-coming stars at the wide receiver position with his stellar rookie season as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020.
Claypool had 889 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns in his rookie year, followed by 956 yards in his sophomore season. During the 2022 season, the Steelers got an offer they couldn't refuse from the Bears in a mid-season trade to acquire Claypool: A second-round pick that ended up being the 32nd overall selection.
That trade looked embarrassing for the Bears rather quickly as Claypool caught just 18 passes in 10 games for them between 2022-23. The Bears clearly had buyer's remorse and traded Claypool to the Miami Dolphins in 2023, just a year after they acquired him in the first place.
The Bears ended up making the mistake of trading valuable capital for Claypool, but the Packers were rumored to have interest in acquiring him as well. And at the age of 27, with absolutely no strings (or draft picks attached), it might be the perfect time to take the risk.
The Packers are loaded at the receiver position to the point that they let Romeo Doubs walk in free agency before trading Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles. There could be an opening at the very bottom of the roster if the lottery ticket pays off, but that's all this is: A free agent lottery ticket.
And if it works, Bears fans will never hear the end of it.
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