Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has opened up on a potential roster move for the team.
The Green Bay Packers did not have a first-round draft pick this year, but they still managed to add some interesting pieces at areas of need.
However, the Packers did not draft a wide receiver, this even though they subtracted both Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks this offseason.
Apparently, they are very confident in second-year receivers Matthew Golden and Savion Williams behind Jayden Reed and Christian Watson.
Green Bay did make a very intriguing UDFA signing in J. Michael Sturdivant, but as far as top-flight receiver talent goes, the Packers decided to sit the draft out.
However, Green Bay has brought in a very interesting veteran tryout at rookie minicamp: Chase Claypool.
Claypool last played in an NFL game with the Miami Dolphins in 2023, so the fact that the Packers are giving him a chance is odd, to say the least.
Chase Claypool. Credit: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.Head coach Matt LaFleur provided his reasoning for the Claypool decision, and it's as good of an explanation as any.
"I mean, you guys saw him, right?" LaFleur said. "He's had great film out there, he's been productive, and he looks like he's in great shape. I mean, he's big. So we'll see how it goes."
The 6-foot-4, 238-pound Claypool was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft and had a couple of really strong seasons with the Steelers to begin his career, but eventually, his attitude wore on then-head coach Mike Tomlin.
Pittsburgh traded Claypool to the Chicago Bears midway through the 2022 campaign, which marked the beginning of the end for the Notre Dame product.
After posting back-to-back 800-yard seasons to begin his NFL career, Claypool managed just 451 receiving yards in 2022 before managing a grand total of eight catches for 77 yards and a touchdown in 2023.
It seems hard to imagine that Claypool has enough juice to actually make the Packers' roster next season, but stranger things have happened, I guess.
Claypool is still just 27 years old, so perhaps there is still reason to believe in him, but there is also a reason why he hasn't seen meaningful action in over two years.
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