The Buffalo Bills addressed a long-standing need for a true WR1 to support quarterback Josh Allen by acquiring D.J. Moore from the Chicago Bears on Thursday. Buffalo sent a 2026 second-round pick to Chicago in exchange for Moore and a 2026 fifth-round pick, aiming to bolster their receiving corps with a proven wideout.
This trade sees the Bills parting with a high-value draft pick for a receiver widely viewed as a solid, if not elite, option. Comparing this deal to recent wide receiver trades in the NFL highlights how significant Buffalo’s price is. It is the highest compensation involving a second-round pick going to a team for a wide receiver since the Seattle Seahawks traded D.K. Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers last year.
Understanding the Value of DJ Moore’s Trade Return
D.J. Moore was sent to Buffalo alongside a fifth-round pick in exchange for a second-round selection going to Chicago. In the 2025 season, Moore recorded 682 receiving yards and six touchdowns over 17 games with the Bears. His consistent production over four 1,000-yard seasons underscores why Buffalo valued him highly.
Analyzing Moore’s trade against other recent wide receiver deals offers insight into how NFL teams value receivers of varying profiles and production levels. Below is a detailed comparison of notable wide receiver trades over the past two years, focusing on player performance prior to each trade and the draft capital exchanged.
Wide Receiver Trades Compared to DJ Moore’s Deal
Rashid Shaheed’s Mid-Season Move in 2025
At the 2025 NFL trade deadline, the Seattle Seahawks acquired Rashid Shaheed from the New Orleans Saints, sending a fourth- and a fifth-round pick in exchange. Shaheed had tallied 44 receptions for 499 yards and two touchdowns in nine games with the Saints before the trade.
Shaheed was a younger, less established receiver compared to Moore, and this was reflected in the lower return cost. While the combination of two mid-round picks compensated New Orleans, Shaheed’s limited track record prevented him from commanding a second-round pick. This contrasts with the Bills paying a second-rounder for Moore, who has a proven track record as a leading target.
Jakobi Meyers’ Late 2025 Transaction
Jakobi Meyers was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2025 deadline after a slow start to the season, despite a strong 2024 campaign with over 1,000 receiving yards with the Raiders. His return package was a 2026 fourth- and sixth-round draft pick.
Meyers, regarded as a reliable WR2, has not demonstrated the capability to sustain a star-level WR1 workload. This lower cost compared to Moore’s trade highlights the difference in team expectations and proven productivity between the two receivers.
George Pickens’ Exchange in 2025
In May 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers traded George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys, receiving a 2026 third-round pick and 2027 fifth-round pick in return. Pickens had tallied 900 yards and three touchdowns over 14 games the previous season.
This trade is one of the closest parallels to Moore’s deal, given Pickens’ status as an up-and-coming star. However, off-field issues and team friction likely influenced Pickens’ value, contributing to Dallas securing him for less draft capital than might be expected for a player of his talent, compared to Buffalo’s pricier acquisition of Moore.
D.K. Metcalf’s High-Profile Trade in Early 2025
The Seattle Seahawks last traded a second-round pick for a wide receiver when they sent D.K. Metcalf and a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In exchange, the Seahawks received a 2025 second-round pick and a seventh-round pick. Metcalf had posted nearly 1,000 yards and five touchdowns in 2024.
This transaction is relevant because both it and Moore’s deal involved a second-round pick and a lower-round selection heading opposite ways. However, Metcalf was considered a top-echelon receiver and an emerging star, whereas Moore, while consistent, has not reached the elite WR1 status Metcalf commanded.
Amari Cooper’s Trade to the Bills in 2024
Amari Cooper was traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Buffalo Bills in October 2024, with the Browns receiving a 2025 third-round and a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for Cooper and a 2025 sixth-round pick. Cooper was having a subdued 2024 season but had exceeded 1,200 yards the previous season.
This trade involved a third-round pick, which was less costly than the second-round pick Buffalo paid for Moore. Notably, Moore was two years younger (28) than Cooper was at the time of their respective trades, and both players had large seasons in their past but were not proven elite WR1s at the time.
Davante Adams’ Relocation to the Jets in 2024
Davante Adams was traded from the Las Vegas Raiders to the New York Jets in October 2024 in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick. Adams had recorded 18 catches for 209 yards and one touchdown in three games before the trade and was reunited with Aaron Rodgers in New York.
Adams, at 32 years old during the trade, still filled a clear WR1 role despite injury history, whereas Moore is younger with solid, but not All-Pro-level credentials. Adams’ pedigree as a three-time All-Pro contrasts with Moore’s absence of Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections, making Buffalo’s higher cost for Moore notable given Adams’ superior status at the time of his trade.
Stefon Diggs’ Departure from Buffalo in 2024
In 2024, the Bills traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans, receiving a 2025 second-round pick in return alongside two later-round picks. Diggs finished his Buffalo career with six 1,000-yard seasons and four Pro Bowl selections but was traded amid off-field tensions despite producing over 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023.
Buffalo’s 2024 trade of Diggs, an elite receiver, for a second-round pick closely resembles the 2026 deal for Moore, though Diggs commanded additional later-round picks. Diggs’ age (30) and track record position him above Moore in career achievement, contrasting with Buffalo’s willingness to relinquish a second-round pick for Moore, who has had a recent career-low in yards.
What the Trade Means for Buffalo’s WR Room
The addition of D.J. Moore strengthens Buffalo’s receiving options alongside Khalil Shakir, James Cook, and Dalton Kincaid, potentially providing Josh Allen with a more reliable top target. While Moore offers a proven track record of production, the premium the Bills paid signals high expectations for him to be a consistent WR1-level contributor.
Given the comparison to other recent trades, Buffalo’s willingness to part with a second-round pick indicates a strategic decision to enhance their offense immediately, rather than rely on development from rookies or lower-profile players. How Moore performs in Buffalo’s offense will be a key storyline as the team pursues its goals in the upcoming seasons.
Compensation agreed upon:
🏈Buffalo gets: DJ Moore and 2026 5th-round pick.
🏈Chicago gets: 2026 2nd-round pick.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 5, 2026
