Former Bears WR Garnering Interest From Unexpected Team

As the buzz around NFL free agency cools off, now is the perfect time of the offseason to check in on what certain ex-Chicago Bears players are up to. Although some former players have already found new homes this spring, that hasn't been the case for everyone as the third week of free agency wraps up.

It's only the end of March, though, meaning there's still plenty of time for former Bears to land a fresh start. In fact, one of the franchise's former receivers is garnering unexpected interest stemming from north of the border.

Former Bears WR Chase Claypool Targeted by CFL's Roughriders

On Sunday, 3DownNation's Justin Dunk reported that the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders "have had communication" with former Bears wideout Chase Claypool. According to Dunk, the Roughriders have owned the 26-year-old playmaker's CFL rights since April 2024.

"A team staff member reached out and spoke with Claypool directly, who appeared receptive to the conversation," Dunk was told by Roughriders general manager Jeremy O'Day. "It remains unclear whether the 6-foot-4, 238-pound pass-catcher would consider coming up to the CFL."

Claypool was born and raised in British Columbia, so it isn't shocking that a CFL team is interested in the Canadian playmaker's services. His mother Jasmine is from Hudson Bay, SK, which is a four-hour drive away from the Roughriders home, Mosaic Stadium.

Considering how the Riders have also held his rights for nearly a year, their desire to make a deal is clearly more than a recent train of thought.

After a successful collegiate run at Notre Dame, Claypool was drafted 49th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020. It didn't take long for him to carve out a notable role in the Steelers' attack, converting 62 receptions into 873 receiving yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie before producing a 59-860-2 stat line in Year 2.

A combination of injuries and off-field behavior caused the Steelers to sour on Claypool fairly quickly, though.

He was traded to the Bears in exchange for a second-round pick ahead of the 2022 NFL trade deadline, hoping that a fresh start in the Windy City would help. Instead, Claypool only mustered up 191 yards and a TD on 18 catches in parts of two seasons before Chicago traded him to the Miami Dolphins less than one year after acquiring him.

After a forgettable time with the Dolphins, Claypool signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills last offseason. He didn't end up playing a game in Sean McDermott's lineup, though, as he was released with an injury settlement before the 2024 preseason even concluded.

Although his career has been a bumpy ride, a CFL stint could be exactly what Claypool needs to get back on track. He doesn't turn 27 years old until July, making him young enough to eventually make an NFL comeback if he can regain his confidence against lesser talent in Canada.

Successfully doing so could see him return to America once the CFL playoffs end in November.

It'd also be interesting to see if Claypool has enough juice left in the tank to bring a title back to his mother's home province. The Roughriders could certainly use the ex-Bears WR's help, given that they currently hold the fourth-best Grey Cup odds (+650) on FanDuel Sportsbook two months before the 2025 CFL season begins.