The Chicago Bears have made some big changes to the roster this offseason, including moving on from receiver DJ Moore. It wasn't a surprise to see the veteran wideout get traded, as the Bears seemingly dangled his name in talks for weeks before finally making the move and shipping him to the Buffalo Bills.
While some fans may not have wanted that move, getting the No. 60 overall pick in the 2026 draft was a great return, and the Bears felt comfortable making the deal because of their faith in Luther Burden III. That faith also adds pressure on the second-year to step up in 2026.
Luther Burden Has to Answer Call for Bears After DJ Moore Was Pushed Out the Door
Following the trade, general manager Ryan Poles didn't hold back his praise for Burden. “I did not expect Luther Burden to be where he was, and he showed up and showed some big-time flashes. Every time that dude touches the ball, special things can happen," Poles said, via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times
Poles added that not having to pay Moore $24.5 million played a role in the team's thought process, stating, "There’s a financial piece of it."
By taking a big picture view of Chicago's thought process, you can see why the Bears went down this path. Burden is on the books through 2028, with his annual salary never rising above $3.4 million. Meanwhile, he was just nabbed with the No. 39 overall pick last April, which came as a surprise to many draft experts. Despite being projected to be a first-rounder, Burden fell right into the Bears' lap.
The former University of Missouri star made enough plays last season to prove he is ready for an expanded role in year two, as he almost had identical stats as Moore, while seeing far fewer targets.
DJ Moore 2025 Stats | Luther Burden 2025 Stats |
|---|---|
Targets: 85 | Targets: 60 |
Catches: 50 | Catches: 47 |
Receiving Yards: 682 | Receiving Yards: 652 |
Touchdowns: 6 | Touchdowns: 2 |
Receiving Yards Per Game: 40.1 | Receiving Yards Per Game: 43.5 |
Considering that Moore got 25 more targets than Burden but only finished with 30 more receiving yards, it catches the eye. You can see why the Bears would be over the moon about the possibility of the wideout being more involved in the offense and what he could do. When you add in the team-friendly price tag that Burden comes with, the move is a no-brainer.
While the excitement is there, the former five-star prospect will need to answer the call. The Bears aren't hiding the fact that they expect him to make a jump next season. During the 2026 campaign, Burden will go up against the opposing team's No. 1 or No. 2 cornerback, which represents a meaningful step up in competition from his rookie season. On top of all that, it's no secret that Ben Johnson and company will throw more on his plate now that Moore is off to Buffalo.
Thankfully for Burden, the offense still has Colston Loveland and Rome Odunze, who can take away some pressure in the aerial attack. But regardless, the Bears moved on from Moore largely due to their faith in Burden. It is now up to Burden to show the front office and fanbase that it was the right decision.