A division rival reportedly outbid the Green Bay Packers for Chase Claypool

The Green Bay Packers desperately need wide receiver help. Ever since general manager Brian Gutekunst traded away Davante Adams last offseason to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Packers’ passing game has struggled.

The Green Bay Packers are currently averaging 217.4 yards per game through the air. The Packers finished with 253.8 passing yards per game last season.

Reigning MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers is struggling to build chemistry with a new stable of wide receivers. Rodgers only has 1800 yards passing, 13 touchdown passes, and four interceptions on the season. Rodgers threw four interceptions during the entire 2021 season.

Injuries and drops have also played a role in the passing attack struggling. Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Sammy Watkins, and Christian Watson all have missed time. Rookie Romeo Doubs has flashed potential but he has also failed sometimes to come down with the ball.

The mistakes made on offense have led Rodgers to think some players should see their snap count reduced. Struggling to move the ball through the air like the Packers are accustomed to has been a running theme during Green Bay’s four-game losing streak.

It sounds like the Packers tried to get some help for Aaron Rodgers but was reportedly outbid by an NFC North division rival.

According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers offered a second round pick for Chase Claypool just as the Bears did.

The Chicago Bears are sending a second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Chase Claypool. He has 32 catches for 311 yards and a touchdown on the season.  He is also a big target standing a 6’4.”

He made an impact during his rookie season when he caught 62 passes for 873 yards and nine touchdowns. He is also a deep-field threat. He has the tools Aaron Rodgers could have wanted.

The problem is the Chicago Bears are in the middle of a rebuild. While both the Bears and Packers are 3-5, the Packers should still get some more victories this season. The Bears will be lucky to win three more games this season. Therefore, their second-round pick is more attractive than the Green Bay Packers.

Claypool provides Bears’ quarterback Justin Fields with a reliable target outside of Darnell Mooney. Claypool does come with some issues so maybe losing on out him is not that big of deal.

There was a reason he was available in the trade market. It was more than just giving young stud wide receiver George Pickens more of a role in the Steelers offense.

Aaron Rodgers is having chemistry issues with the current wide receiver and adding Claypool may not have helped improve those problems with Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar mentioning that he didn’t think Claypool was a good schematic fit for the Packers.

Also, if the Green Bay Packers wanted to beat the Bears’ offer, they probably would have had to give up a first-round pick. Claypool is good but he has yet to prove he is worth giving up a top pick.

Still, the Bears coming in and acquiring a player out from underneath Green Bay is a shrewd move by their oldest rival. It will help the Bears while Green Bay lost a way to salvage their passing game.