Bills OTA observations: Chase Claypool dismisses negative rep, no adjustment needed for MVS (2024)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Chase Claypool calmly insisted he has nothing to prove. His recent contract screams otherwise.

This should’ve been the offseason when Claypool signed a massive deal. The 2020 second-round draft pick looked like a future star with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was voted an All-Rookie receiver alongside Justin Jefferson and followed up with a strong sophom*ore campaign.

Now he’s on his fourth team over the past year and a half. While Jefferson is on the brink of breaking the bank as perhaps the highest-paid receiver in NFL history, the Buffalo Bills signed Claypool this month to a one-year, $1.35 million deal.

Claypool has faced harsh criticism for being selfish and emotionally immature.

“It’s frustrating, especially when it’s so far from the truth,” Claypool said, speaking after Tuesday’s voluntary practice at One Bills Drive. “But I’m not here to prove that I’m not what they say. I’m just here to be what I am and be a part of the team. I’m not trying to prove anyone wrong or right. I’m just being who I am.

“It doesn’t matter what the outside world says as long as my teammates know the kind of guy I am and the coaches do too.”‘

Claypool still is seven weeks shy of his 26th birthday. There’s time to reverse negative perceptions.

And although his employment history raises red flags, he pushed back on the notion he’s a problem.

“In the buildings, I don’t think it’s ever been an issue,” said Claypool, “but in terms of a fresh start with a new perspective of who I am is awesome. I know none of the guys kind of look at what’s online because they know some of that is misleading. I love how they just treat me like family right away, and I don’t come in with any baggage from the outside world.”

But all it takes is a gander at his name on Notre Dame’s leaderboards and his forceful NFL arrival to wonder why coaches bench him, why GMs are so willing to let him leave, and why few teammates stick up for him.

If any game sums up the dichotomy, it was the eight-point loss to the Minnesota Vikings in 2021. Claypool outdueled Jefferson with game-highs of eight receptions and 93 yards (Jefferson did score a touchdown) despite Steelers coach Mike Tomlin benching Claypool for much of the first quarter. Claypool poked cornerback Bashaud Breeland in the face, drawing his third 15-yard penalty that season and contributing to a pointless drive.

Then came that regrettable, indelible first-down preen — with 36 seconds left and no timeouts — that squandered the clock. The Steelers eventually ran out of time at the 12-yard line.

Signed WR Chase Claypool, LB Deion Jones & DE Dawuane Smoot each to a one-year contract. pic.twitter.com/8OkXurIqDb

— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) May 3, 2024

As a rookie, Claypool caught 62 passes for 873 yards and nine touchdowns, followed by 59 receptions for 860 yards and two TDs. Yet, the Steelers sent him to the Chicago Bears for a second-round draft choice at the 2022 trade deadline. He lasted three games into the 2023 campaign before the Bears benched him, then told him not to bother coming to Soldier Field or Halas Hall before shipping him and a seventh-round draft choice to the Miami Dolphins for a mere sixth-rounder.

In explaining the Bears’ stance before trading Claypool, head coach Matt Eberflus said: “When I came here Day 1, I talked about being on time, being respectful and working hard. That to me is important for every individual — if it’s a staff member, a player or a coach. That’s where we are. We feel right now this is the best decision for us.”

The past two seasons, dressing for all three clubs, Claypool made only 54 catches for 528 yards and two TDs over 27 games.

He suggested the Steelers did a better job exploiting his 6-foot-4, 238-pound frame those first two years, which were Ben Roethlisberger’s last. Since then, Claypool’s quarterbacks have been Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, Justin Fields and Tua Tagovailoa.

Josh Allen and Buffalo’s offense offered an appealing next stop.

“There’s teams that can really know how to utilize big receivers and put them into positions to make plays,” Claypool said. “This is one of those teams. You saw that a little bit those first two years in Pittsburgh, and you’re seeing it now with how they have me working a little bit, which is cool.”

Claypool has impressed Bills coach Sean McDermott.

“Very impressed with Chase,” McDermott said. “Really, just starting with approach, here’s a veteran receiver, a former high pick that has been on a journey through the course — recently — of his career. I applaud Chase for coming here to see where things go. He’s very focused. He’s working extremely hard.”

McDermott noted Claypool has embraced the un-diva-like idea of playing special teams, a role he served as a rookie but only again last season. He played only 9 percent of the Dolphins’ offensive snaps, but 44 percent of their special teams plays.

“You don’t find that a lot around the NFL,” said McDermott, “where a player has been at a certain level and then is on a mission to reclaim what he once was in that regard.

“Those are my words, and maybe that’s unfair to Chase, respectfully, but I would just say I’m very impressed with his day-to-day approach. True pro, high character, smart player and a good addition to our team.”

Claypool conceded he initially didn’t welcome the concept of special teams in Miami. But he got exactly twice as many plays on special teams as on offense, 102-51, without so much as a kickoff return. He made five tackles and caught four passes in his nine Dolphins games.

No special teams, no uniform.

“I went from being a starter, playing every play, to going to Miami and really not playing at all,” Claypool said. “So it made me realize my love for the game because even though I was doing nothing that I wanted to do — or expected to do, special teams, stuff like that — I realized how much I love football because when I did get the opportunity out there, I loved it, even if that was kick return, kickoff.

“It’s really making the most of your situation and loving what you do. If I didn’t love the game, then it would have been easy to just fold.”

MVS has history helping MVPs

Usually, new Bills receivers require an adjustment period to catch Allen’s fingertip-scorching fastball.

Not so for Marquez Valdes-Scantling. All 20 of his career touchdowns were thrown by Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes.

“Just a normal pass, man,” Valdes-Scantling said of Allen’s ball. “It’s not any different than the other two guys that I had. I think I’ve had two of the best to ever do it. So, coming in here, he’s gifted. He’s talented. I’m excited to see what this season is like for us.”

Valdes-Scantling mentioned several similarities among the quarterbacks: lack of ego, caring about teammates, escapability that keeps plays alive and receivers on their toes. The seventh-year pro also witnessed Allen accomplish what few opposing quarterbacks have accomplished against the Chiefs: win several times.

“They kept beating us in the regular season. That sucked.” Valdes-Scantling said. “They were always a play or two away from being in the Super Bowl. You never want to go to a losing team. I didn’t want to go to a team that wasn’t going to be competitive.

“They got the injury bug last year and lost a bunch of linebackers, which hurt them down the stretch, but they’re competitive every year.”

Now he wants to help Buffalo get over that hump.

His former quarterbacks won at least one MVP throwing to him, Rodgers in 2020 and 2021 and Mahomes in 2022, also a Lombardi Trophy season.

“It’s been a blessing,” Valdes-Scantling said. “I’ve had great opportunities, winning two Super Bowls and being a part of those teams in Green Bay, watching Aaron win MVPs. Hopefully, I can just keep bringing over good stuff.

“Hopefully, we can get Josh a Super Bowl and an MVP this year.”

Babich to get play caller tryout

McDermott remained mum about whether he intends to retain defensive play-calling duties or abdicate to newly promoted coordinator Bobby Babich, but the head coach said it would be “a more fair question … when we’re in the middle of training camp. I won’t make a decision before then.”

McDermott named Babich defensive coordinator after the Bills fielded requests from the Dolphins, New York Giants and Green Bay Packers to interview the 40-year-old son of longtime NFL assistant Bob Babich.

For such a high-pressure gig, Bobby Babich’s tryout should involve preseason games. Babich hasn’t called a defense before. He was hired in 2016 to be Division II Edinboro’s defensive coordinator but left before the season to join Florida International’s staff.

“There’s going to be intentionality on my part to make sure, whether it’s practice or preseason games, that Bobby’s given that opportunity,” McDermott said. “So it’s just a matter of when and for how long.

“Being a former play caller myself, six years before I got here and then last year again, you’re always having to knock off some of the rust. You’re always having to get yourself polished and ready to go because you’ve got to be able to process quickly: down-and-distance situation, time on the clock, timeouts, what you’ve already set up.

“There’s a lot that happens fast. Getting yourself to the right call quickly is important, and that kind of knocks the rust off.”

Near-perfect attendance

All but two of Buffalo’s 91 players have attended voluntary workouts this week. Missing were defensive tackle DaQuan Jones and cornerback Rasul Douglas.

“We’ve had great attendance throughout the whole offseason,” McDermott said. “The focus, day in and day out, has been tremendous.”

Teams are required to provide injury reports, but McDermott said receiver Bryan Thompson, tackle Tommy Doyle, linebacker Matt Milano and cornerback Mike Edwards are not practicing. Edwards will miss three to four weeks with a shoulder injury. Right tackle Spencer Brown, recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, was limited.

Milano is the most significant of the group. The splashy All-Pro suffered a broken right tibia in the Week 5 loss in London. Over his past 21 games, including playoffs, Milano has five interceptions, a pick six, 14 pass breakups, a forced fumble, two recoveries, 4.5 sacks, 17 tackles for losses and 12 QB hits.

“The word I’ve gotten from our training staff is he’s on schedule,” McDermott said. “Matt’s here every day. I can tell you he’s working hard. It’s probably going to be more closer to training camp, and we’ll be seeing him out there in maybe some drill work before that — maybe not. It’ll be just how he continues to progress.”

Still seeking Hyde?

Many thought unsigned safety and captain Micah Hyde would make an announcement about his NFL future at his annual charity softball game over the weekend.

Hyde did not commit, although he eliminated the possibility of playing for another team, declaring it would be the Bills or retirement.

McDermott might’ve slipped, however, talking about Hyde’s playing days in the past tense. But McDermott caught himself.

“He and I were discussing the other day the value of the softball game and home run derby,” McDermott said. “It’s real easy when you’re done playing — right? — to just, ‘Hey, done playing …’ I use that term loosely here with this situation, reflexively, to just not do that anymore.

“But I think the type of person, the type of character, type of family that the Hydes are to continue to want to do that here in Buffalo. That just says a lot about who they are.”

(Top photo of Chase Claypool and Baylon Spector: Mark Konezny / USA Today)