If the Chicago Bears are going to make a bold move before the trade deadline, moving DJ Moore could be it.
To some, it may sound crazy, as Moore is one of the more versatile receivers in football. But when you take a closer look at how the offense has evolved under Ben Johnson and how Caleb Williams has spread the ball around through three weeks, it makes a little more sense.
Moore hasn’t exactly disappeared, but he doesn’t look like a focal point on offense anymore. He’s sitting at 12 catches for 135 yards and one score, never targeted more than six times in a game so far. That’s a stark contrast to 2023, when he was Chicago’s unquestioned WR1 and went for over 1,300 yards.
Now, Rome Odunze looks every bit like Chicago’s WR1, currently leading the team with 227 yards and four touchdowns through three weeks. The numbers coupled with some recent comments from Johnson have some analysts questioning whether Moore has a future in Chicago.
A Closer Look at Ben Johnson’s WR Usage So Far in 2025
Flea-flicker TD from the Bears 🔥
(via @NFL)
What guys do when the ball isn’t in their hands matters,” Johnson said after the Bears lost to the Lions Week 2. “We’ll find out who wants to practice hard and be part of the game plan Sunday.”
Multiple analysts believe that was a thinly veiled comment largely directed at Moore.
“Earlier last week, Johnson made a subtle, yet clear call out of a few unnamed skill position players,” Aaron Leming of Windy City Gridiron wrote on September 22. “In my view of the All-22, the primary player who fit into that category was Moore. I was not alone in that thought, either.”
There’s also Luther Burden to consider. His breakout against Dallas—five catches, 101 yards and a viral flea-flicker touchdown—showed that Johnson has real plans for the rookie WR.
The chemistry between Williams and Olamide Zaccheaus adds another wrinkle. Zaccheaus isn’t racking up Odunze-like stats, but he’s already carved out a niche in the offense and a rapport with QB1. When your franchise quarterback is comfortable with a veteran role player, it matters — and coaches notice.
“Odunze is here for the long haul, and it’s clear that Zaccheaus is held in high regard, even if it’s as a role player,” Leming added. “That means that Moore and Burden might be the two players fighting for snaps. Considering the team spent a high second-round pick on Burden back in late April, it stands to reason that he’s going to be in the team’s long-term plans moving forward. So, what does that mean for Moore?”
Why DJ Moore Remains a Legit Trade Candidate for the Chicago Bears
GettyWill the Chicago Bears trade DJ Moore after Luther Burden’s breakout?
“This isn’t me advocating for a trade by any means, but I do wonder what this offense looks like going into late October,” Leming also noted. “If Moore is WR3 or WR4 by that point, and Burden has proven himself as the player they believed they were drafting, it could make sense to deal him at the deadline while his value is still high. Again, this is more of thinking outloud, but it’s something worth monitoring over the next month or so.”
Moore is making nearly $25 million against the cap in 2025, and that number climbs in 2026 when guarantees kick in. The Bears could decide that paying premium money for a receiver who’s slipping into the No. 2 — or even No. 3 role — just doesn’t make sense. Odunze and Burden are cheap for the next few years, and Williams is still on his rookie deal. It does make some sense to move Moore while his value is still high.
That doesn’t mean a trade is inevitable. Moore is still productive, and defenses still scheme for him. But as Leming noted, it is something to monitor moving forward.
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