Are we buying the Chase Claypool hype in Buffalo Bills OTAs?

The Buffalo Bills have a bunch of new faces at One Bills Drive this summer, none more polarizing than former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool.

The 25-year-old has had an interesting start to his NFL career, to say the least. After an impressive rookie season where he looked poised to become a star, things took a negative turn for the former Notre Dame wide receiver. There has been a mix of off-field issues and strain, leading to a measurable drop in his production since his sophomore year.

Since being traded from Pittsburgh to the Chicago Bears during the 2022 season, Claypool has not accumulated more than 150 receiving yards in a single season. There are legitimate reasons to be concerned.

But all the reports from Orchard Park since OTAs began show that Claypool has been excellent. According to Matt Parrino of Syracuse.com, Claypool has been the “most consistent” receiver since OTAs began.

As mentioned above, Claypool hasn’t been the most productive player since leaving the Steel City, which makes his promising debut in Western New York encouraging, if not a little surprising. Should we buy into the Claypool hype?

Well no.

It’s not hard to look great against the air, especially when you’re an incredible athlete and have elite size at the receiver position. Claypool generally did not face first-team defensive backs; no offense to anyone, but it’s hard to get too excited about a player when one of their OTA highlights is “Mossing” Ja’Marcus Ingram. What might be more concerning is the fact that Claypool is currently the “most consistent” receiver on the Bills roster.

Related: Bills starting defensive end impressed by ‘mature’ rookie Javon Solomon at OTAs

Everyone expected a drop in production on the receiving unit since the Bills traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans, but the fact that a player with less than 2,500 yards receiving career scrimmage, only 15 career total touchdowns, and has been traded twice in his career is “emerging” as a potential top-tier weapon is not a promising start for the Bills’ revamped receiving corps.

But that’s the problem. It’s June. The pads aren’t even turned on yet. It’s hard to put too much stock in any hype until teams start playing, at least a facsimile, real football in training camp and during the preseason.

While we don’t buy into the hype, it’s not impossible for Claypool to rediscover the form he had in Pittsburgh. That would bode well for the Bills, but this “hot start” isn’t necessarily a sign of a career renaissance.