Why the Bears Should Trade DJ Moore
The Chicago Bears’ 2025 season was a revelation.
Under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, the team transformed from a 5-12 also-ran into an 11-6 division champion, capturing the NFC North crown for the first time since 2018 and earning their first playoff win in 15 years with a thrilling 31-27 comeback over the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round.
Time to Move On: Why the Chicago Bears Should Trade DJ Moore This Offseason
Dubbed the “Cardiac Bears” for their NFL-record-tying seven come-from-behind victories in the final two minutes, Chicago rode quarterback Caleb Williams’ sophomore surge—3,942 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and a 57.9 QBR—to a postseason berth that ended in a heartbreaking 20-17 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round. The offense, bolstered by a top-three rushing attack led by D’Andre Swift’s 1,087 yards and nine scores, averaged 25.9 points per game, ranking ninth in the league.
Yet, as general manager Ryan Poles surveys the landscape heading into 2026, the Bears face a familiar crossroads: how to evolve from plucky overachievers into perennial contenders.
One bold move could accelerate that process—trading wide receiver DJ Moore. At 29 years old and coming off his least productive season as a pro, Moore represents a valuable asset whose departure could free up cap space, yield draft capital or defensive reinforcements, and allow younger talents to flourish. Here’s why it’s time for the Bears to consider cashing in on their veteran wideout seriously.
Moore’s Diminishing Returns in a Crowded Receiver Room
Since arriving in Chicago via the blockbuster 2023 trade that sent the No. 1 overall pick to Carolina, Moore has been a steady presence, amassing over 2,000 receiving yards in his first two seasons with the team. But 2025 marked a sharp decline: just 50 receptions for 682 yards and six touchdowns, his lowest totals in receptions and yards since entering the league in 2018. He added versatility with 15 carries for 79 yards and a score, but his 13.6 yards per catch and 58.8% catch rate underscored inefficiencies, especially in a passing game that ranked 10th in yards per contest at 225.1. Critics pointed to lapses in effort and route-running precision, including a costly overtime miscommunication with Williams that sealed the playoff exit.
This dip isn’t entirely on Moore—the Bears’ offense distributed the ball more evenly, with tight end Colston Loveland emerging as a red-zone threat (58 catches, 713 yards, six TDs) and the run game taking precedence. But the real story is the rise of younger receivers. Second-year standout Rome Odunze and rookie Luther Burden III combined for over 1,300 yards, forming a dynamic duo that often overshadowed Moore. Odunze, in particular, has the size and speed to step into a true WR1 role, while Burden’s explosiveness adds a big-play element. With these cost-controlled options locked in for years, Moore’s role feels redundant. Trading him would streamline the depth chart, giving Williams reliable targets without the veteran baggage.
The Cap Crunch: Moore’s Contract Is a Luxury Chicago Can’t Afford
Financially, the Bears are in a bind. They’re currently $5-13 million over the projected 2026 salary cap of $301-305 million, ranking near the bottom of the league in available space. Moore’s four-year, $110 million extension signed in 2024 carries a whopping $28.5 million cap hit in 2026, the team’s highest, with a base salary of $23.485 million and $35.485 million in dead money if cut outright. A pre-June 1 trade would save $16.5 million, while a post-June 1 deal nets $24.5 million—crucial breathing room for a squad eyeing extensions for key defenders like cornerback Jaylon Johnson or safety Kevin Byard.
Restructuring could save up to $16.8 million by spreading bonuses over the deal’s remaining years, but that merely kicks the can down the road, inflating future hits when the Bears will need flexibility for Williams’ inevitable mega-extension. Poles has other levers to pull—restructuring deals for Montez Sweat ($25 million hit) or Tremaine Edmunds could free $35-85 million overall—but offloading Moore outright aligns with a youth movement. At 29, his value might never be higher, especially after contributing to a playoff run despite the stats.
Bolstering the Defense: Trade Moore for Assets That Address Real Needs
The Bears’ 2025 success masked defensive vulnerabilities. They allowed 24.4 points per game (23rd in the NFL) and struggled against the run and pass rush, ranking middling in sacks and yards allowed. Heading into 2026, priorities include safety, interior defensive line, and edge rusher—areas where free agency and the draft could transform the unit under coordinator Dennis Allen.
Trading Moore could net the ammunition needed.
League buzz suggests Moore’s trade value hovers around a Day 2 pick (third or fourth round), given his $49 million owed over the next two years. But in packages, he could fetch more. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed sending Moore and Chicago’s 2026 first-rounder (projected No. 25) to the Las Vegas Raiders for edge rusher Maxx Crosby and a 2027 fifth, addressing the Bears’ pass-rush void while dumping salary. Crosby, a three-time Pro Bowler with 9.5 sacks in 2025, would pair with Sweat to form an elite front, and the Raiders get a proven receiver for their young QB.
Other suitors include the Pittsburgh Steelers, where NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah sees Moore as a fit for their receiver-needy offense, or the Buffalo Bills, leveraging coordinator Joe Brady’s prior ties with Moore in Carolina. Even a straight swap for draft capital—a 2026 third and conditional fourth—would allow Poles to target defensive prospects like a disruptive tackle or rangy safety in a loaded class. The Bears have thrived with comeback magic, but sustained success demands balance. Trading Moore reallocates resources from a stacked offense to a leaky defense.
Potential Drawbacks and the Bigger Picture
Skeptics will argue Moore’s durability—he’s started 111 of 118 career games—and blocking prowess make him irreplaceable. His veteran savvy stabilized the receiver room during Williams’ growth, and jettisoning him risks chemistry issues. But the numbers don’t lie: his 16% target share in 2025 was his lowest ever, and with Odunze and Burden ascending, the Bears can absorb the hit. Poles has built through calculated risks, like the Moore acquisition itself, which indirectly netted Williams. Now, flipping him completes the cycle.
In a league where windows close fast, the Bears are primed for contention. Williams is the franchise QB, the offense hums, and Johnson’s scheme maximizes talent. But to challenge NFC powerhouses like the Rams or Eagles, Chicago needs defensive upgrades.
Trading DJ Moore isn’t about undervaluing his contributions—it’s about maximizing the roster for a Super Bowl push.
If Poles pulls the trigger, 2026 could mark the dawn of a new Bears era.
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Categorized:Bears