Report: Green Bay Packers had bid for wide receiver Chase Claypool rejected at trade deadline

The Green Bay Packers find themselves in unfamiliar territory with a losing record at the midway point of the season and appear in desperate need of offensive help. After losing Pro Bowler Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason, the organization relied on a mixture of veteran acquisitions and rookies to fill the void. To this point it has failed.

However, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport, the team attempted to find another solution on Tuesday afternoon before the league’s trade deadline came and went. The Packers wanted to add former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool to the mix but were outbid by NFC North rival Chicago Bears before walking away with nothing.

“They were definitely in on Chase Claypool,” said Rapaport on Wednesday morning. “My understanding is that – of course we know he went for a second-round pick, he went for Chicago’s second-round pick which theoretically should be earlier in the draft than the Green Bay Packers’ second-round pick – the Packers were willing to part with that second-round pick for Claypool. But what can you really do? The Pittsburgh Steelers chose the other one.

“The Packers end up doing a lot of work, making a ton of calls trying to get a playmaker and end up holding with what they have. It is what it is. We will see how the team responds.”

Packers also made calls on Brandin Cooks

As Ian Rapaport shared the bad news with frustrated Packers fans, he delivered a bit more context on the behind-the-scene calls which were made in an attempt to land a wide receiver. While the team appeared willing to part with significant assets to get a deal done, some obstacles just cannot be overcome.

“I know there were several receivers they took a look at, and there were several receivers available including Brandin Cooks. But just contractually, that one was brutal at $18 million fully guaranteed the next year. No team obviously wanted to take that on so it’s not just the Packers, really no team.”

According to reports from Tuesday night, the Packers were not the only team to call about the availability of Cooks and walk away with nothing. The Dallas Cowboys apparently came close to completing a deal to add the veteran star but was unable to complete the negotiations in time.

No matter what, the roster is now set, with the free agent market serving as the only pool left for the Packers or any other team to improve the roster moving forward.