DJ Moore was a tremendous addition to the Chicago Bears offense when he arrived in 2023. He immediately went for over 1300 yards and looked like a true #1 wide receiver they could build around. This season hasn't been his best statistically, but some huge catches against Cleveland and Green Bay reminded everybody how good he could be. It quieted the rumblings that the team should at least consider moving on from the 28-year-old next spring. His hefty contract and bouts of inconsistency led some to think he wasn't worth keeping.
Could one play have changed that? During the season finale against the Detroit Lions, the Bears were trailing 13-0 in the 3rd quarter. Caleb Williams had a good drive going. Then, from the Lions' 37, he fired a pass deep to Moore. Around the two-yard line, Moore appears to slow down and gets easily outmuscled by the defender, leading to an interception. The wide receiver doesn't even make an effort to prevent the turnover. It wasn't a good look, and it isn't the first one where Moore seems to give up on a ball.
DJ Moore has left the door open to get moved.
Here are some inescapable facts. He counts $28.5 million against the salary cap next year. The Bears are projected to be $200,000 in the red. They have to find a way to create space. Trading Moore would net them $16.5 million. That move alone would solve most of their pressing issues. More importantly, this isn't a situation where the Bears would ruin their passing attack by unloading him. Colston Loveland led the team with 713 yards. Rome Odunze finished just behind Moore's 682 despite missing five games. Luther Burden had 481 yards over the last eight games of the season. Chicago has lots of young and cheaper options in the passing game who appear just as good.
Nobody can argue that DJ Moore has been a big part of the team's climb out of the cellar. His catch against the Packers will be immortalized forever. Still, you must keep business and emotion separate. The fact is, he's no longer their ace wide receiver. His frequent disappearances are making it harder and harder to justify his big contract. Chicago has the necessary safety net to survive the loss of a player of his caliber. It feels like a trade should be expected. That play against Detroit wasn't the primary reason, but it may have been the spark on the fuse.
