Ex-Notre Dame football star lands thrilling shot with a receiver-hungry squad
A former Notre Dame football star is getting a fresh start with a new team in the NFL. That's the good news. The better news is that he's about to play alongside one of the best quarterbacks in the league, for an offense that is looking to find a consistent receiver.
Chase Claypool has had a rather up and down career since he left Notre Dame and was drafted to the NFL. There have been some moments where he looked like the best receiver on the field. And then there was last season, where he was so unmpressive as a wide receiver that the Miami Dolphins shifted him to tight end.
Claypool is trying for a new start with the Buffalo Bills. The former Notre Dame football star inked a one-year deal with a team that is getting a bit of a new start itself after losing to their nemesis, the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Playoffs once again.
The 6-foot-4, 238-pound receiver brings veteran depth to a Bills receiver room needing to reshape itself after Stefon Diggs was traded, Gabe Davis left in free agency, and Keon Coleman was drafted 33rd overall.
Claypool can give Buffalo both size and speed. He ran a 4.42 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in 2020.
Former Notre Dame football star gets fresh start with receiver-hungry team
The former Fighting Irish star has been with three teams over the past two seasons after the Chicago Bears traded him to the Miami Dolphins in October. The trade came about after Claypool voiced frustration over how he was used by the Bears.
When he first landed in Chicago it was thought he might finally be the kind of weapon then-starting quarterback Justin Fields needed to finally turn the corner into a competent NFL QB. Claypool was traded to the Bears by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 and finished that season with 14 catches for 140 yards.
Last season with the Bears he caught just 4 passes for 51 yards and a touchdown. When he moved to the Dolphins he posted just 4 catches for 26 yards.
Coming out of Notre Dame, Chase Claypool looked like one of the best young receivers in the game. He nabbed 62 catches for 873 yards and 9 touchdowns in his rookie campaign. His second year in the league he had 59 catches for 860 yards but just 2 TDs.
He's never posted more than 32 catches in a season since.
For the Notre Dame football program, Chase Claypool posted 150 catches for 2,159 yards and 19 touchdowns. That includes his senior season in 2019 where he hauled down 66 catches for 1,037 yards and 13 touchdowns.