A 0-2 start to the 2025 NFL season has already created a big sense of urgency in the Windy City. Falling to 0-3 would all but end the Chicago Bears' postseason aspirations, highlighting the importance of needing to beat the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3.
Losing to the Cowboys would lead the Bears to make some tough decisions about their veterans. They have some young and talented players who aren't getting enough playing time, and their proven stars would rather play for a contending team.
That's why it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see wide receiver D.J. Moore tangled up in trade rumors if the Bears fail to win their next two games. Starting 1-3 or 0-4 would make it almost impossible for them to make the playoffs, which is why September will likely decide the veteran playmaker's fate.
Bears Could Trade WR D.J. Moore After September
The Bears hoped that Moore would establish himself as the No. 1 pass-catcher on the team, but after two weeks, Rome Odunze has shown that he might be ready to take that spot.
That's not to say that Moore hasn't been good, though. He's logged eight catches on eleven targets for 114 yards and no scores, adding two carries for eleven yards. That might not be as impressive as advertised, but given the team's struggles, it's still fairly decent.
Still, with rookie WR Luther Burden III reportedly looking great in practice and not getting a lot of reps in actual games, the Bears could try to flip Moore's contract to get valuable draft picks while still having a talented duo of pass-catchers.
Burden is a combination of Moore and Odunze, so keeping all three of them might be a little redundant, and there's simply no way the Bears would even consider trading their young star midway through his second season in the league.
That inevitably makes Moore the odd man out in the equation, but also because he's the most valuable trade asset right now. He's signed through the 2029 season, and his $27 million annual average value makes him a bit of a bargain in today's inflated wide receiver market.
The Bears will host the 1-1 Cowboys on Sunday before a Week 4 date with Pete Carroll and the Las Vegas Raiders. Both of those defenses proved to be beatable last week, and with Chicago fans quickly growing frustrated with head coach Ben Johnson's offense, the next two games will be crucial to determine not only the course of the season but also potentially Moore's future with the team.