The Kansas City Chiefs are kicking off their on-field work for the 2026 offseason with a rookie minicamp, and there is one very notable name on the tryout list that nobody could have possibly expected to see.

Bears WR Chase Claypool on 2023: ‘It’s the biggest year of my life’

Former Pittsburgh Steelers second-round pick Chase Claypool is participating in the Chiefs’ rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, according to reports, and it’s fair to say pretty much everyone had the same reaction when his name was dropped: What the…?

It’s not uncommon for NFL teams to bring in veteran dart throws like this for their rookie minicamps, but Claypool is a bigger name than you will usually see, and even the remote possibility that it could work for Kansas City would stick it to the team’s division rivals — especially the Chicago Bears. And that alone makes the idea extremely worthwhile.

Chase Claypool trying out for the Chiefs is a potential gold mine for AFC West bragging rights

Claypool hasn’t played in the NFL since 2023, but was on a roster as recently as 2024 when he signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills. The Bills had Claypool on their roster throughout training camp in 2024 before he suffered a torn ligament in his toe, was placed on IR, and later released with an injury settlement.

There was once a time when Claypool looked like one of the rising stars at the wide receiver position after his breakout rookie season with Pittsburgh in 2020.

He posted 889 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns in that rookie campaign, followed by 956 yards in his sophomore season. During the 2022 season, the Steelers received an offer they couldn’t refuse from the Bears in a mid-season trade: a second-round pick that ended up being the 32nd overall selection.

That trade quickly became a nightmare for Chicago, as Claypool managed just 18 receptions in 10 games between 2022 and 2023. The Bears moved on quickly, trading him to the Miami Dolphins just one year after acquiring him.

The Bears paid a heavy price for Claypool, but now the Chiefs have a chance to take a zero-risk swing. At just 27 years old, and with no draft capital attached, this could be the perfect moment to see if there’s anything left in the tank.

The Chiefs already have a loaded receiver room, but there could still be space at the very bottom of the roster if this lottery ticket hits. And that’s exactly what this is — a no-risk, high-upside gamble.

And if it works?

The rest of the AFC West — especially Chicago — will never hear the end of it.