The Buffalo Bills made a significant trade this offseason, sending a 2026 second-round pick to the Chicago Bears in exchange for wide receiver DJ Moore and a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Many were surprised that the Bills traded a second-round pick for Moore, but Buffalo’s general manager Brandon Beane explained why he made the move to acquire the former Bears wide receiver.
Beane Explained Why He Traded For Moore
“I thought DJ, he’s a guy we followed all the way back from the draft process. A guy I checked into at the trade deadline last year,” Beane told Tyler Dunne of Go Long on Thursday. “And of course when you’re looking at options and you’re talking through, Joe Brady quickly reminds you, “Yeah, he had one of his better years with me in Carolina.” He really loved DJ. So he knows his makeup, his wiring even better than I know it to be because mine is from what I understand of him and from the people I know in Carolina and from the people through the draft process at Maryland.”
Brady spent two years coaching Moore when he was the Panthers‘ offensive coordinator in 2020 and 2021. If anyone understands how he plays, it would definitely be the guy who draws up his plays.
Is Moore’s Decline in Production a Problem?
One major concern for Moore is that his performance dipped somewhat last season. He recorded only 50 receptions for 682 yards and six touchdowns over 17 games. However, this decline could also be attributed to the Bears’ heavy focus on the running game, which limited Moore’s opportunities in the passing attack.
Despite Moore’s production declining, Beane doesn’t seem too worried that this will be a problem in Buffalo and still views him as a top option.
“But his skillset, he’s been a No. 1. Some people may say “His production dropped. He’s not a No. 1.” There’s probably 1As, 1Bs. Where is he in that? I don’t know,” Beane added. “I’m not going to worry about that. What I know is he’s a player that still has plenty of talent. His production dropped, but you don’t see a drop in his speed, in his athleticism, his hands, his ability to run routes. And I would emphasize if you watched a lot of his targets a lot of his production came in “got to have it” moments. The ball seemed to go his way. And so all of that told me that this guy can still help us now. And it’s not like it’s a one-year rental. He can help us now and for the foreseeable future.”
Moore Will Get a Chance to Play With Josh Allen
One positive for Moore this season is that he will have the opportunity to play alongside one of the best quarterbacks of his career, Josh Allen. Moore has never teamed up with a quarterback of Allen’s caliber, and this could be the chance he needs to get back to achieving 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
Allen has the potential to unlock Moore’s full capabilities, and if he does, the Bills may finally overcome their long-standing struggle to reach the Super Bowl.
Brandon Beane Clarifies Why Bills Traded For DJ Moore Instead of Other Receivers