How AJ Brown Now Controls The Destiny Of DJ Moore
The Chicago Bears have been careful with their comments about DJ Moore since the season ended in January. They have in no way said they hate the veteran receiver (quite the opposite) or said they want to trade him. However, Bears general manager Ryan Poles admitted the situation is difficult. Moore is coming off his worst season of production in years and will carry a $28.5 million cap hit into 2026. The Bears are over the salary cap as of writing this and have multiple young offensive weapons ascending in the offense. Some believe it might be time to trade Moore.
It isn’t crazy to think there would be takers. Moore will be 29 this year and showed plenty of flashes that he can still be the playmaker he was in 2023 and 2024. Ask the Green Bay Packers. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune has heard the potential return in a trade would be favorable to the Bears.
One source was relatively confident the Bears could find a taker for Moore and might be able to get a Day 2 pick in return. Perhaps some creativity would be required to swing a deal in which the Bears paid down some of the money.
This was echoed by Dan Wiederer and Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. Much of how it unfolds depends particularly on what happens with the Philadelphia Eagles and star receiver A.J. Brown.
Some anticipate significant outside interest in the veteran receiver, estimating that a fourth-round pick or a conditional third could be more than enough to satisfy the Bears, particularly once A.J. Brown’s future in Philadelphia becomes clearer.
Said one source: “If you’re in the A.J. Brown market and Philly moves him but you’re a team that loses out, DJ feels like a pretty comfortable fallback.”
History shows plenty of evidence for this DJ Moore theory.
Back in 2020, the Arizona Cardinals pulled off a stunner when they traded for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans. The Buffalo Bills had been searching for a playmaker to pair with quarterback Josh Allen. When Hopkins came off the board, they quickly pivoted to Stefon Diggs, whom they got in a deal with Minnesota later that same day. Two years later, Davante Adams was the hot commodity everyone wanted. The Las Vegas Raiders won that race on March 17th, beating out Miami among others. Six days later, the Dolphins acquired Tyreek Hill from Kansas City.
The NFL is filled with competitive people who don’t like to lose. If word gets out that they are pursuing one big-name player on the market and they fail to acquire him, they suddenly feel a need to find a way to salvage the situation. That means going after another big name. If the Eagles deal Brown, there will be at least two or three teams that miss out on him. It isn’t a stretch to think they might see DJ Moore as a favorable consolation prize. The Bears don’t have to actively seek out suitors.
| News Date | Player | To Team | First Report Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 4, 2025 | Rashid Shaheed | Seahawks | ~4:00 PM |
| Nov 4, 2025 | Jakobi Meyers | Jaguars | ~4:00 PM |
| Nov 4, 2025 | Adonai Mitchell | Jaguars | ~4:00 PM |
| Nov 5, 2024 | Mike Williams | Steelers | 2:02 PM |
| Oct 29, 2024 | Diontae Johnson | Ravens | 4:03 PM |
| Oct 24, 2024 | DeAndre Hopkins | Chiefs | 8:00 AM |
| Oct 15, 2024 | Amari Cooper | Bills | 2:18 PM |
| Oct 15, 2024 | Davante Adams | Jets | 8:49 AM |
| Apr 3, 2024 | Stefon Diggs | Texans | 11:07 AM |
| Nov 1, 2022 | Calvin Ridley | Jaguars | 3:56 PM |
| Apr 28, 2022 | A.J. Brown | Eagles | 8:53 PM (During Draft) |
| Mar 23, 2022 | Tyreek Hill | Dolphins | 12:08 PM |
| Mar 17, 2022 | Davante Adams | Raiders | 6:51 PM |
| Mar 16, 2020 | Stefon Diggs | Bills | 10:43 PM |
| Mar 16, 2020 | DeAndre Hopkins | Cardinals | 12:54 PM |
| Mar 12, 2019 | Odell Beckham Jr. | Browns | 8:11 PM |
| Oct 30, 2018 | Golden Tate | Eagles | 12:56 PM |
| Oct 22, 2018 | Amari Cooper | Cowboys | 1:13 PM |
Answers should arrive before the draft.
Based on the dates above, most trade action involving big-name receivers occurs in mid-March to early-April or at the trade deadline in late October. With the scouting combine having taken place, it’s a safe bet the Bears have had serious conversations with several teams about the availability of DJ Moore and what the price tag could be. However, the situation with Brown in Philadelphia will keep the market from moving until there is a resolution. Either the Eagles make it clear they’re keeping him, or he’s dealt elsewhere.
Once that happens, Moore likely becomes the biggest name on the list. He’s still in his prime and is under contract through 2029. If the Bears are willing to eat some of that contract, they could get a bigger return on any trade made. Teams that immediately stand out as potential landing spots are Las Vegas, Tennessee, and New York. All three have enough cap space to handle Moore’s contract and either have a young quarterback or will soon have one who will need weapons. Once that Brown news drops, the clock starts on Moore.