The Chicago Bears‘ offseason might be about addition by subtraction this year, rather than the marquee signings and trades that defined GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson’s first offseason together last spring.
After all, ahead of the new league year beginning and NFL free agency getting underway, the Bears are currently upwards of $5.3 million over the cap.
If Chicago is going to get cap compliant, get younger at a key position, and free up the spending flexibility necessary to add or upgrade at key areas of need, it may depend on trading away a steady veteran contributor in the weeks to come.
DJ Moore trade could be Chicago Bears’ dream offseason move
Over at Bleacher Report, NFL analyst Moe Moten put together a list of each team’s dream move for the offseason ahead, including trading DJ Moore, for the Bears.
“Don’t expect Moore’s production to trend back in the right direction,” Moten suggests for B/R. “As wideout Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland gain experience in head coach Ben Johnson’s offense. After seeing 140 targets in 2024, he saw 85 targets last season.
“General manager Ryan Poles can look to deal Moore before he turns 30 next year, while the seven-year veteran is still making the most of his dwindling opportunities in the offense.”
Given Burden and Odunze’s emergence, and right end Colston Loveland’s prolific rookie season, Moore may have long ago reached his ceiling in the Bears’ passing game.
Set to count roughly $23.5 million against the cap, as the highest cap number on the Bears’ roster, a trade would create upwards of $16.5 million in cap space while triggering a $12 million dead-money charge. At this point, the additional spending flexibility to spread across other positions of need may be significantly more valuable for the Bears than having Moore in Caleb Williams’ supporting cast.
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