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By Matthew Schmidt
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Chicago Bears have been rolling, winning four straight games to get to 4-2 and establish themselves as playoff contenders in the NFC. While Caleb Williams still hasn't played overly well, the Bears' offense has looked considerably better thanks to contributions from running back D'Andre Swift and second-year receiver Rome Odunze, the latter of whom has already scored five touchdowns.
But what about D.J. Moore? Chicago initially acquired Moore in a deal that sent the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers back in 2023, and in his first year with the Bears, Moore was terrific, hauling in 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight scores. Since then, however, it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for the 28-year-old.
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Moore failed to reach 1,000 yards last season, and through six games this year, he has logged 22 catches for 258 yards and a touchdown. It also seems fairly clear that his rapport with Williams isn't the best.
So could Chicago actually try and move Moore by the NFL trade deadline? Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic has unveiled a rather stark reality for Moore on that front.
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"As good a player as he is, and the fact that he’s 28, another team would consider the resume, along with his contract," Fishbain wrote. "Moore’s salary-cap hit is $28.5 million in each of the next three seasons. ... If the Bears were open to moving Moore, which I doubt, maybe they’re looking at a fourth-rounder. Is that worth it?"
Maybe a fourth-rounder for Moore is absolutely brutal, and at that point, Chicago would be better off holding on to him. While Moore has never made a Pro Bowl (he was definitely snubbed in 2023), he has four 1,000-yard campaigns under his belt since entering the league with the Panthers in 2018.
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And even if the University of Maryland product doesn't have a great connection with Williams, he is still a dynamic weapon that opposing defenses need to account for, and it makes Odunze's job — as well as the jobs of the Bears' other receivers — easier.
Perhaps Moore will turn things around during the second half of the season. Banking on a Moore rebound is almost certainly better than acquiring a Day 3 pick for him.
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