The New Orleans Saints are suddenly looking for help at receiver after the news that Jordyn Tyson is expected to miss a lot of time with a hamstring issue.
That setback could keep Tyson out for the first month of the 2026 season, and possibly longer, which has pushed the Saints to take a harder look at the free-agent market for depth.
One of the names they’ve already brought in is Chase Claypool. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Saints hosted the former Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears wideout for a visit, along with veteran Josh Reynolds.
"With Jordyn Tyson dealing with a hamstring injury, the Saints worked out veteran WRS Chase Claypool and Josh Reynolds today," Garafolo reports.
Reynolds is the steadier of the two options, a nine-year veteran who has bounced around the league and has spent time with six teams. He hasn’t always been a standout, but he has been a serviceable depth receiver at times.
Claypool is the bigger name, and the bigger swing. The 28-year-old hasn’t played in an NFL game since the 2023 season, and his career has been a roller coaster since the Steelers drafted him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
He flashed early in Pittsburgh, putting up 873 yards and nine touchdowns on 62 catches and 109 targets in 2020. The next season, he followed that with 59 receptions on 105 targets for 860 yards and two touchdowns, looking every bit like a rising star.
Things changed after that. Claypool was dealt to the Bears, where he managed 140 yards in seven weeks in 2022 and then 51 yards in three games in 2023. He later moved on to the Miami Dolphins, playing in nine games that season and catching four of seven passes for 26 yards.
Since then, he hasn’t appeared in an NFL game. He signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2024, but landed on injured reserve and never got on the field in the regular season.
The Saints aren’t limited to free agency either, and could also explore the trade market for more help. But Claypool is the most intriguing name in the mix, and if New Orleans does decide to sign him, he’d instantly become one of the more interesting players to watch in preseason practices and down the stretch of camp.
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