The Chicago Bears moved on from some key veterans this offseason, including wide receiver DJ Moore, who was traded to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick (and sending a fifth rounder back).
Moore, who was acquired in the blockbuster trade of the No. 1 pick to the Carolina Panthers back in 2023, has been a key piece of the offense for the last three seasons. But with his massive salary cap hit and the influx of talent on Chicago’s roster, trading Moore made the most sense from a business standpoint. And the reason they were able to do it is quite simple: Luther Burden III.
Last offseason, the Bears weren’t in need of another wide receiver with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze on the roster. But when they elected to draft the best player available in the second, they lucked into a young, promising playmaker who thrived in his rookie season, which gave them the ability to move on from Moore.
“You look at what Luther did, again, that’s why you followed the draft board,” said general manager Ryan Poles. “I did not expect Luther Burden to be where he was. He showed up and showed some big-time flashes. Every time that dude touched the ball special things could happen. Then obviously our tight end (Colston Loveland) is a special player as well. With that said, you have to look at different moves that are going to help you continue to build your football team and that’s what we felt was best.”
It took Burden some time to get going in his rookie season amid the array of talent at receiver and tight end. But when he did, Burden showed his potential to be a star in Ben Johnson’s offense. Burden is expected to be featured prominently in his second season after showcasing his amazing potential in the downfield passing game and his overall versatility and playmaking ability.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Ryan Poles explains why the Bears traded DJ Moore
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
