MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Chase Claypool on Wednesday practiced for the first time since the Miami Dolphins acquired him from the Chicago Bears via trade.
And despite speculation that he would be a tight end in Miami, Claypool — wearing No. 83 — was both listed and worked as a wide receiver.
Claypool’s size — 6-4, 238 pounds — combined with a CBS Sports report suggesting as much has fueled speculation that the Dolphins are changing his position.
Update: The #Dolphins could possibly use their newcomer Chase Claypool as a Tight End in their offense, per @jjones9
Jones notes that the Dolphins didn't really need WR help and that he wouldn't be surprised if Miami uses Claypool's 6'4 frame creatively including as TE.
Will… https://t.co/6k91oDM5Cz pic.twitter.com/qC79r4Lw1W
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 8, 2023
Not so, McDaniel said Wednesday — albeit with a caveat. McDaniel said point-blank that he sees Claypool as a wide receiver.
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How Miami Dolphins Plan To Use Chase Claypool
But he did add:
“He is a player with above-average size at this position. If he’s able to execute certain things, I’m not going to limit a player to what he can or can’t do.
“Every game, we have guys doing multiple roles and fitting within the offense tailored to their skill set. It’ll be cool to watch. I can tell that he is definitely attentive. He’s paying attention to everything. I can tell you that much.”
#Dolphins receiver coach Wes Welker used the stretching period to go over plays with newly acquired WR Chase Claypool during his crash course introduction of the offense. pic.twitter.com/rbOHTDSkKh
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) October 11, 2023
The biggest hurdle for Claypool to see the field will be something only he can control: Willingness to work and eagerness to block.
Effort was a major concern late in his time with the Bears and led to the team cutting their losses and moving on less than a year after giving up the 32nd pick in the draft to acquire him.
McDaniel has proven that he’s not going to put players on the field who don’t block — and don’t block well.
“It’ll be interesting to see,” McDaniel said when asked how quickly Claypool can get up to speed.
“You don’t have too many of these scenarios where you get a talented player that’s done a lot in this league, you know, jumping on your team when you’re in [this] phase of football.
“I’m gonna let him tell me,” McDaniel added. “I really don’t know — the wrong person to ask — because I’ve been in the same office for 17 years.
“I think we’ll see what that looks like because we don’t have that many reps in a regular-season game at the receiver position. Definitely open-minded. Gonna allow him to shape our vision and his teammates. One thing that you have to do on this team is you have to earn the privilege to play with a group of guys on the only place that matters, and that’s the grass.”