The Chicago Bears are coming off a disappointing loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8 and now sit at 4-3. While they’re not out of the playoff picture, it’s become a bit trickier to go on a run and secure a spot.
With the trade deadline less than a week away, the decision made by Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson in their first year together will be fascinating. They could wind up as buyers, with needs for a cornerback, offensive tackle, and edge rusher. But they could also sell.
According to ESPN NFL insider Bill Barnwell, the Bears could make a bold decision on veteran wide receiver DJ Moore. With their current offensive strengths, Poles and Johnson could decide to part with Moore at the deadline in a potentially wild trade.
Bears could consider a DJ Moore trade, according to an ESPN NFL insider
“If there’s a prominent player who could unexpectedly make sense as a potential trade candidate at the deadline for me, it’s Moore.” Barnwell writes. “… A trade during the offseason would make more sense, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Moore became the odd man out in Chicago.”
Trading Moore would be an aggressive move for Poles and Johnson to make in their first year together. But it’s a move that isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem on the surface.
The Bears have seen Rome Odunze come into his own this season, and with Luther Burden III and Olamide Zaccheaus in the wide receiver room, moving on from Moore wouldn’t put a huge dent in the offense.
Barnwell alludes to Johnson’s ideal offense being in 12-personnel, with two tight ends. In such a formation, Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland would be on the field, along with two wide receivers and a running back in most cases.
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Having four starter-quality receivers wouldn’t fit the Bears’ offense in such a scenario, paving the way for a trade to make sense. While Odunze, a first-round pick from 2024, and Burden, a second-rounder from 2025, are not likely to be moved, Moore makes the most sense.
Not only would getting off his $110 million extension, which begins in 2026, make a lot of financial sense with the current weapons at Johnson’s disposal, but Zaccheaus, the only other receiver who could be moved, won’t fetch a decent return.
Moore could land the Bears a solid draft pick, as the 28-year-old receiver is still a great weapon, and could be a huge boost to a wide-receiver-needy team. His hip injury might complicate things, but he’s a realistic trade candidate for the Bears at the 2025 deadline.
While a trade deadline move isn’t the most likely scenario, Moore is far from untouchable on the Bears roster. As Barnwell writes, it wouldn’t be too surprising if Moore were dealt in the next week.
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