Report: Colts work out former All-Rookie Team veteran wideout

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Indianapolis Colts worked out veteran free agent wideout Chase Claypool, who hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since 2023:

The 28-year-old former 2020 2nd round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers also spent time with the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills organization during his initial 4-year NFL career.

His best season came as a rookie for the Steelers back in 2020, when he recorded 62 receptions for 873 receiving yards (14.1 ypr. avg.) and 9 touchdown receptions during 16 games (6 starts)—earning PWFA All-Rookie Team honors that same season.

Claypool would follow that strong debut pro campaign up with a ‘sophomore season’ in which he recorded 59 receptions for 860 total receiving yards (14.6 ypr. avg.) and 2 touchdown receptions during 15 games (13 starts).

Unfortunately for Claypool, his production would significantly dip after his first two seasons with the Steelers, before eventually and rather infamously being traded to the Chicago Bears for a 2023 2nd round pick, where he would never live up to that higher draft pick that was surrendered.

Claypool couldn’t regain his prior footing in the Windy City and had a subsequent underwhelming sole season with the Miami Dolphins in 2023, before joining the Buffalo Bills in 2024, but never appearing in an NFL game again because of a significant toe injury.

At 6,4″, 238 pounds, Claypool during his early career playing peak, was a big, physical possession wideout, who had the ability to separate vertically. In that regard, he was somewhat similar to recently departed veteran Colts wideout Michael Pittman Jr. in sheer stature and big bodied playing style.

He was also a RAS darling coming out Notre Dame in 2020 with a 9.98 RAS grade out of a maximum of 10.0, but whether he still has that peak athletic ability remains to be seen—especially having been out of football for two seasons and some quiet receiving seasons to end his initial career.

It’s worth noting that he previously worked out for the Green Bay Packers in May of this year.

It’s not as thought the Colts couldn’t use a potential wide receiver upgrade along the outside, especially with Alec Pierce still out of training camp commission for the next week or so. The projected starter on the outside opposite of Pierce, when he’s fully healthy of course, is currently Ashton Dulin and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.

That being said, it seems like a longshot that Claypool can regain his prior early career form with Pittsburgh.

This may be just an instance of the Colts doing an agent a solid or kicking the tires purely for due diligence purposes too see how much gas Claypool realistically has left.