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The Chicago Bears went 11-6 and won the NFC North title in 2025.
Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore had an up-and-down season in 2025. His highs include a game-winning touchdown in overtime against the Green Bay Packers during Week 16. But then his lows include a miscommunication between him and quarterback Caleb Williams that led to an overtime interception, which eventually led to a Bears’ loss in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Lack of effort has been a narrative Moore has been unable to shake during his time in Chicago. The inconsistencies of his play, combined with the Bears’ up-and-coming wide receiver room has made Moore a popular trade candidate in many analysts’ eyes.
Most recently, former scout and NFL Network media analyst Daniel Jeremiah pitched that DJ Moore could be involved in a trade package to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
GettyChicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore caught 50 passes for 682 yards and six touchdowns in 2025.
Jeremiah noted that the Steelers have a strong need at the wide receiver position due to a lack of talent behind DK Metcalf. They also have a wealth of capital in the upcoming NFL Draft, including three third-round picks. “They could very easily parlay one of those third-round picks and try to free another wide receiver from somewhere else, whether that’s DJ Moore, whoever else might pop on the trade market,” Jeremiah said on his Move the Sticks podcast.
Moore is under contract with the team until 2030. Cutting him would cause a significant $28.5 million cap hit. Trading him wouldn’t just save the Bears nearly $24 million but also provide them with more draft capital available to address an area of need.
And luckily, if general manager Ryan Poles and the Bears decide to go in that direction, the Steelers aren’t the only team in the mix as a potential Moore trade partner.
Sports Illustrated Lists the Buffalo Bills as a Potential Trade Candidate for DJ Moore
The Bills have been widely criticized for not supplying quarterback Josh Allen with enough talent at wide receiver. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady was recently promoted to head coach of the organization, and he has an existing connection to DJ Moore. Joe Brady was Moore’s offensive coordinator in Carolina during the 2020-2021 NFL season. This connection, along with Buffalo’s need for a playmaker at the position, has Sports Illustrated writer Khari Thompson believing a reunion could be in store.
“With Moore still just 28 years old, the Bears could maybe get a third- or fourth-rounder back in return for the ability to free up space for Loveland to assert himself as the team’s top option in the pass game and Burden to shine as a younger, more explosive version of Moore at this stage in this careers,” Thompson said. “It seems like a trade between the Bears and Bills for his services might end up the best of both worlds.”
Bears Would Most Likely Use Extra Draft Picks on Defense
Several mock drafts have the Bears targeting the defensive side of the football with the majority of their picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. The Bears went heavy on the offensive side of the ball over the last two drafts and have knocked it out of the park in most respects, so it only makes sense that they would flip their attention this time around. Not to mention that Pro Football Focus had the Bears graded as the 13th-worst defense last year. Despite Chicago leading the league in total takeaways (33) last season, they boasted the eighth-lowest pass-rush grade and the 12th-lowest run-blocking grade according to PFF.
The Bears will look to address their roster holes this offseason as they attempt to make an even greater jump in 2026.
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