The Chicago Bears are facing mounting speculation surrounding wide receiver DJ Moore‘s future with the team as the 2025 season wraps up. With the new league year beginning on March 11, reports indicate the Bears are likely to move on from Moore due to his recent dip in performance and salary cap concerns.
Declining Production Signals Possible Departure
DJ Moore, once the primary target for the Bears, experienced a noticeable drop in productivity this year. After achieving career highs in 2023 with 96 receptions, 1,364 yards, and eight touchdowns, Moore’s numbers fell to only 50 catches and 682 yards in 2025. Meanwhile, younger receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III surpassed him in the pecking order, with Odunze recording 44 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns, and Burden finishing his rookie season with 47 catches, 652 yards, and two touchdowns.
Moore’s performance decline is particularly striking given the Bears’ hire of an offensive-minded head coach, Ben Johnson, prior to the 2025 campaign. Despite the change, Moore never regained his previous form, raising questions about whether he fits into the team’s future plans.
Contract and Cap Space Complicate Trade Prospects
Over the past three seasons, Moore has tallied 244 receptions, 3,012 yards, and 20 touchdowns in 51 games, helping justify the trade that brought him to Chicago in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick used on Caleb Williams. However, the financial burden posed by Moore’s contract may outweigh his contributions. According to Over The Cap, Moore carries a $28.5 million salary cap hit for each of the next two seasons, with a $24.5 million charge in the final year of his four-year, $110 million contract extension.
This hefty salary could limit trade options, as any potential acquiring team would also face a long-term financial commitment once the guaranteed money expires after next season. Despite this, Bears General Manager Ryan Poles suggested at the NFL Scouting Combine that moving Moore might be in the best interest of the franchise’s long-term success.
“I have nothing but great things to say about [Moore,]” Poles said, via Heavy’s Jordan J. Wilson. “But this is the time where we have to look at all the different scenarios and see what can allow us to put the best team we can put out there.”
Teams Interested Amid Potential Salary Cap Relief
The Bears could clear approximately $16.5 million in cap space by trading Moore, which might help facilitate upgrades elsewhere on the roster. Sources indicate teams like the Las Vegas Raiders, Buffalo Bills, and Tennessee Titans could serve as possible destinations for the wide receiver if the Bears find a willing trade partner.
Given the contract size, it’s expected Chicago may need to incentivize a deal by including higher draft picks alongside Moore or even taking on a portion of his salary to attract interest. Such a strategy might yield significant draft capital, enabling the Bears to strengthen multiple positions while managing salary commitments efficiently.
What This Means for the Bears’ Future
As the Bears prepare to enter the 2026 season, the likely separation from DJ Moore reflects a broader effort to recalibrate the roster under Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson’s leadership. Trading Moore would relieve cap pressure and allow for reinvestment in younger talent, particularly after witnessing burst performances from Odunze and Burden. This transition may mark a pivotal shift in Chicago’s rebuilding efforts following mixed results over recent years.
With the trade deadline and new league year approaching rapidly, the Bears’ decisions regarding Moore’s status will be closely watched by analysts, fans, and potential suitors alike. The outcome could significantly impact both the team’s offensive scheme and salary cap flexibility moving into the next season.
Two other names the #Bears have received calls on are QB Tyson Bagent and WR DJ Moore, per sources.
Moore has over $23M in guaranteed money in 2026 and is viewed as available for the right price by teams in the WR market. https://t.co/gchkxeiTtV pic.twitter.com/VfDk45sSey
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 26, 2026
