Chase Claypool, a former second-round pick, is among nine players invited for tryouts at the Green Bay Packers rookie minicamp. He was previously a trade target for the Packers in 2022 but was traded to the Chicago Bears instead.
Key points
Chase Claypool is among nine players at Packers rookie minicamp
He was a second-round draft pick by the Steelers in 2020
Packers offered a second-round pick for Claypool in 2022
Claypool was traded to the Bears instead
The trade is viewed as a bust
Chase ClaypoolGreen Bay PackersPittsburgh SteelersChicago Bears
GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers invited nine players to take part on a tryout basis in their rookie minicamp and two of them are familiar names.
The Steelers put Claypool up for trade just before the ’22 trade deadline and the Packers offered a second-round pick for the former Notre Dame receiver.
The Chicago Bears also offered a second-round pick and the Steelers accepted their offer because they thought it would be a higher selection in the ’23 draft.
The Claypool trade was a bust.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool prepares for a game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool prepares for a game against the Baltimore Ravens.
He played in just 10 games for the Bears and caught 18 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown.
In October 2023, the Bears traded him to Miami along with a seventh-round pick in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
In ’24, Claypool signed a one-year, $1.135 million contract with Buffalo but he was released at the end of training camp.
He has not played a game in the NFL since the ’23 season.
The Packers also invited Alabama-Birmingham running back Isaiah Jacobs, the brother of running back , to their minicamp on a tryout basis.
Q&A
Why did the Green Bay Packers invite Chase Claypool to their rookie camp?
The Packers invited Chase Claypool for a tryout to evaluate his potential as a veteran wide receiver.
What happened during the Chase Claypool trade talks in 2022?
Chase Claypool was offered to the Packers and the Chicago Bears, but the Steelers accepted the Bears' offer, believing it would yield a higher draft pick.
What was Chase Claypool's draft position and team before the trade?
Chase Claypool was a second-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020.
What were the results of the Chase Claypool trade for the Chicago Bears?
The trade for Chase Claypool is considered a bust, as he did not meet expectations during his time with the Bears.
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Iowa State offensive lineman Dylan Barrett, who also played at Wisconsin, is one of several undrafted free agents the Green Bay Packers are signing following the 2026 NFL Draft.
Scroll through this gallery to see all the players, including stats and where they played in college.
Kyle Drones, Virginia Tech Position: Quarterback Height: 6-1½
Weight: 226 pounds
In 12 games in 2025, Drones completed 56.5% of his passes for 1,919 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions his senior year.
He started 34 games in his three years at Virginia Tech. Drones began his college career at Baylor for two years.
Kyron Drones was a rushing threat during his college career, topping 1,847 yards on the ground and 22 touchdowns, including nine last season.
TJ Quinn, Louisville Position: Linebacker
Height 6-foot
Weight: 225 pounds
TJ Quinn (34) led Lousiville in tackles in 2023 and 2024 and was a third-team All-ACC performer in 2025.
Josh Gesky, Illinois
Position: Offensive lineman Height: 6-5
Weight: 308 pounds
Josh Gesky spent his entire five-year college career at Illinois.
He started all 13 games at left guard for the Illini in 2025 and earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.
Jaden Nixon, Central Florida
Position: Running back Height: 5-9
Weight: 199 pounds
Nixon spent his final college season at Central Florida where he earned All-Big 12 honorable mention as a kick returner.
He led UCF in rushing touchdowns (seven) and second on the team in rushign yards (554).
Nixon had the team's first kickoff return touchdown in eight years and totaled 438 return yards on the season.
For Nixon's redshirt junior season, he transferred to Western Michigan.
Nixon was a first-team All-MAC honoree after totaling 921 rushing yards on 143 attempts and 12 touchdowns.
Nixon spent the first three years of his college career at Oklahoma State (2021, 2022 and 2023). He redshirted in 2021.
Murvin Kenion III
Position: Safety Height: 5-10½
Weight: 205 pounds
He began his college career at Idaho before transferring to Nevada.
Dylan Barrett, Iowa State
Position: Offensive lineman Height: 6-5
Weight: 325 pounds
Spent six years in college (First four at Wisconsin and then his final two at Iowa State)
R.J. Maryland, SMU
Position: Tight end Height: 6-4⅛
Weight: 236 pounds
R.J. Maryland spent all four years of his college career at SMU.
R.J. Maryland accumulated 1,495 yards, the most by a tight end in program history.
He's the son of former No. 1 overall pick Russell Maryland (1991, Dallas Cowboys), who later played one season with the Packers.
Nyjalik Kelly, Central Florida
Position: Edge rusher Height: 6-5½
Weight: 263 pounds
Kykalik Kelly was a two-time honorable mention All-Big 12 selection his junior and senior seasons at Central Florida in 2024 and 2025.
He started 23 games for the Golden Knights, including all 12 his senior year.
A former four-star prospect, Kykalik Kelly began his college career at the University of Miami.
He spent two years there before transferring to UCF.
J. Michael Sturdivant, Florida Position: Wide receiver Height: 6-3
Weight: 207 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.40 seconds
In his only season at Florida in 2025, he started in every game, recording 27 receptions for 406 yards and three touchdowns.
Before Florida, he spent two years at UCLA (2023, 2024) and two at Cal (2021, 2022).
Dillon Wade, Auburn
Position: Guard Height: 6-3
Weight: 313 pounds
Spent five years in college (final three at Auburn, first two at Tulsa).
He started all 12 games at left guard as a senior and 34 consecutive starts overall.
Eni Falayi, Wake Forest
Position: Tight end Height: 6-5
Weight: 249 pounds
Spent three years at UMass, one year at Utah Tech before finishing college career at Wake Forest in 2025. He played in 12 games with 11 startsat Wake Forest with 21 catches, 228 yards and two touchdowns.
1 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Iowa State offensive lineman Dylan Barrett, who also played at Wisconsin, is one of several undrafted free agents the Green Bay Packers are signing following the 2026 NFL Draft.
Scroll through this gallery to see all the players, including stats and where they played in college.
1 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Iowa State offensive lineman Dylan Barrett, who also played at Wisconsin, is one of several undrafted free agents the Green Bay Packers are signing following the 2026 NFL Draft.
Scroll through this gallery to see all the players, including stats and where they played in college.
2 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Kyle Drones, Virginia Tech Position: Quarterback Height: 6-1½
Weight: 226 pounds
3 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
In 12 games in 2025, Drones completed 56.5% of his passes for 1,919 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions his senior year.
He started 34 games in his three years at Virginia Tech. Drones began his college career at Baylor for two years.
4 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Kyron Drones was a rushing threat during his college career, topping 1,847 yards on the ground and 22 touchdowns, including nine last season.
5 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
TJ Quinn, Louisville Position: Linebacker
Height 6-foot
Weight: 225 pounds
6 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
TJ Quinn (34) led Lousiville in tackles in 2023 and 2024 and was a third-team All-ACC performer in 2025.
7 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Josh Gesky, Illinois
Position: Offensive lineman Height: 6-5
Weight: 308 pounds
8 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Josh Gesky spent his entire five-year college career at Illinois.
He started all 13 games at left guard for the Illini in 2025 and earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.
9 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Jaden Nixon, Central Florida
Position: Running back Height: 5-9
Weight: 199 pounds
10 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Nixon spent his final college season at Central Florida where he earned All-Big 12 honorable mention as a kick returner.
He led UCF in rushing touchdowns (seven) and second on the team in rushign yards (554).
Nixon had the team's first kickoff return touchdown in eight years and totaled 438 return yards on the season.
11 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
For Nixon's redshirt junior season, he transferred to Western Michigan.
Nixon was a first-team All-MAC honoree after totaling 921 rushing yards on 143 attempts and 12 touchdowns.
12 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Nixon spent the first three years of his college career at Oklahoma State (2021, 2022 and 2023). He redshirted in 2021.
13 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Murvin Kenion III
Position: Safety Height: 5-10½
Weight: 205 pounds
He began his college career at Idaho before transferring to Nevada.
14 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Dylan Barrett, Iowa State
Position: Offensive lineman Height: 6-5
Weight: 325 pounds
Spent six years in college (First four at Wisconsin and then his final two at Iowa State)
15 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
R.J. Maryland, SMU
Position: Tight end Height: 6-4⅛
Weight: 236 pounds
16 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
R.J. Maryland spent all four years of his college career at SMU.
R.J. Maryland accumulated 1,495 yards, the most by a tight end in program history.
He's the son of former No. 1 overall pick Russell Maryland (1991, Dallas Cowboys), who later played one season with the Packers.
17 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Nyjalik Kelly, Central Florida
Position: Edge rusher Height: 6-5½
Weight: 263 pounds
18 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Kykalik Kelly was a two-time honorable mention All-Big 12 selection his junior and senior seasons at Central Florida in 2024 and 2025.
He started 23 games for the Golden Knights, including all 12 his senior year.
19 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
A former four-star prospect, Kykalik Kelly began his college career at the University of Miami.
He spent two years there before transferring to UCF.
20 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
J. Michael Sturdivant, Florida Position: Wide receiver Height: 6-3
Weight: 207 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.40 seconds
21 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
In his only season at Florida in 2025, he started in every game, recording 27 receptions for 406 yards and three touchdowns.
Before Florida, he spent two years at UCLA (2023, 2024) and two at Cal (2021, 2022).
22 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Dillon Wade, Auburn
Position: Guard Height: 6-3
Weight: 313 pounds
Spent five years in college (final three at Auburn, first two at Tulsa).
He started all 12 games at left guard as a senior and 34 consecutive starts overall.
23 / 23
Green Bay Packers undrafted free agents 2026 in photos
Eni Falayi, Wake Forest
Position: Tight end Height: 6-5
Weight: 249 pounds
Spent three years at UMass, one year at Utah Tech before finishing college career at Wake Forest in 2025. He played in 12 games with 11 startsat Wake Forest with 21 catches, 228 yards and two touchdowns.
The other tryout players are:
Tackle Dain Walter, UW-La Crosse
Quarterback Aidan Bouman, South Dakota
Long snapper Spencer Triplett, North Carolina
Punter Caleb Junko, Pittsburgh
Long snapper Brett Weising, Drake
Linebacker Alex Afari, Kentucky
Guard Jacoby Jackson, Mississippi State
The Green Bay Packers made six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft with Brandon Cisse of the South Carolina Gamecocks their first pick in the second round.
Scroll through this gallery for info on the players part of the Packers' 2026 draft class.
Brandon Cisse, cornerback, South Carolina, second round round (52nd overall)
Chris McClellan, defensive tackle, Missouri, third round (77th overall)
Chris McClellan played the final two years of his college career at Missouri after two years at Florida.
Dani Dennis-Sutton, edge rusher, Penn State, fourth round (120th overall)
Dani Dennis-Sutton spent his entire four-year college career at Penn State.