The Chicago Bears are having their best season since 2018, but DJ Moore, ostensibly the team’s best wide receiver, hasn’t been as big of a part of it as he’d like.
Moore has expressed his frustration with the offense visibly on the sidelines multiple times this season, as second-year quarterback Caleb Williams has worked through growing pains and generally favored Rome Odunze as a target over Williams.
First-year head coach Ben Johnson’s system also emphasizes the run game and tight ends in the pass attack, which isn’t conducive to big numbers for a higher-end wideout like Moore.
NFL insider Bill Barnwell of ESPN suggested in October that Moore was a trade candidate ahead of the mid-season deadline, as well as next spring if the Bears chose not to make a big move by early November.
But despite all of that, Moore said this week that he is enjoying the team success and being part of a winning organization for essentially the first time in his career.
“I mean, it feels amazing. I get to see what everybody else get to hype about — playing in December and January,” Moore told “Good Morning Football” on Thursday, December 18. “So I’m looking forward to it, and this year has been fun, outside of the stats and everything. Just building a bond with this team has been fun.”
“Now that I’m on the winning side, people are more excited for me that I am instead of, ‘Dang, why you not getting the ball?’” Moore continued. “It’s more like, ‘He’s on a winning team now.’ So I’m very grateful.”
Bears Will Play Packers Without Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III
GettyChicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze.
Moore has become more central to the offense in recent weeks, as Odunze has sat out the last two games with a stress fracture in his foot and will also miss Chicago’s home contest against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night.
Johnson discussed the possibility earlier this week that the team will hold Odunze out for the remainder of the season and make a bet on the playoffs with or without him.
“Ben Johnson said ‘all options are on the table’ regarding Odunze’s foot injury and whether the team will shut him down for a stretch of time to get him healthy, ready for a potential playoff run,” ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reported via X on Monday. “Johnson: ‘There may be a case that we need to protect him from himself a little bit so he can help us down the road.’”
Also out Saturday is rookie slot receiver Luther Burden III, which increases Moore’s value even more for a pivotal game that will decide the leader of the NFC North Division with two weeks to play in the regular season.
DJ Moore Trade Remains Possibility in Offseason
GettyWide receiver DJ Moore of the Chicago Bears.
Moore has amassed 43 catches for 567 yards and five TDs this season and is on pace for the lowest reception and yardage totals of his eight-year career.
He will likely end up as Chicago’s top receiver in 2025 by default, as Odunze is about to miss his third straight game, yet still holds a slight lead in all Bears’ major receiving categories.
Nevertheless, questions remain regarding Moore’s future, as he will begin the first season of a four-year contract extension worth $110 million in 2025. Moore has WR1 talent, but simply may not be a significant need or a particularly good fit in Johnson’s offense moving forward — especially at that price.
Thus, a trade remains a viable outcome when the next NFL year begins in March.
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