The Chicago Bears have some important roster decisions to make this offseason regarding the salary cap, which could include parting ways with some key starters. And that might include wide receiver DJ Moore.
Moore was acquired by the Bears in a trade of the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he served as the team’s top receiver for his first two seasons. But with the arrival of head coach Ben Johnson, Moore didn’t seem to fit as well on offense and was passed up by Rome Odunze as WR1 and even rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III saw extended roles on offense.
But Moore did finally see some involvement in the passing game when Odunze was sidelined, including coming up with huge touchdown passes against the Green Bay Packers in Week 16 and the wild-card playoffs. But with a $28.5 million cap hit (most for Chicago) and Odunze and Burden primed for bigger roles, many speculate if Moore will be with the team in 2026. In fact, Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker listed Moore as a prime trade candidate this offseason.
Moore was elite after being traded from Carolina to Chicago, garnering an 89.0 overall PFF grade in 2023. But in the two years since, that number has dwindled to 73.5, including a 72.8 PFF receiving grade. The 2025 season was a bit of a trying one for Moore, who recorded a career low in yards per route run (1.24) with his highest drop rate (4.7%) since 2021. On top of that, questions surrounding his route-running effort — including against the Rams in the playoffs — continued to populate.
Understandably, the Bears may not want to fracture a receiving group that ranked 12th in PFF receiving grade this year. But with Moore due an inflated $28.5 million against the cap while grading out as Chicago’s fourth-best receiver, that value doesn’t seem to equate. Perhaps the Bears will give the 28-year-old a fresh start elsewhere as they roll with a younger and cheaper room.
Moore has been a key contributor on offense since joining Chicago, and he’s been a leader in the community as the Bears’ winner/nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2025. But with Chicago nearly $10 million over the projected salary cap and Moore carrying a nearly $30 million cap hit, the business side of things could lead to a change.
If the Bears were to find a trade partner for Moore (post-June 1), it would free up $24.5 million in cap space and only cost $4 million in dead cap. But that’s also assuming a trade partner would take on the entirety of Moore’s current deal.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Top Bears veteran dubbed trade candidate this offseason
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
