As soon as the Chicago Bears appointed Ben Johnson as their new head coach, fans and analysts raved about the potential impact he could have on DJ Moore. The former Carolina Panthers star was the team's de facto WR1, and there were also some rumblings about him getting touches out of the backfield like Deebo Samuel (h/t NFL.com's Kevin Patra).
So far, the early returns have been somewhat underwhelming. Rome Odunze has taken a huge leap in Year 2, and his chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams is pretty evident. That, plus Luther Burden III's presence, might make Moore somewhat expendable before November's trade deadline.
With that in mind, a WR-needy time like the Seattle Seahawks could try to make a run at Moore, and it'd be in the Bears' best interest to answer any potential phone calls..
Bears Send DJ Moore to Seahawks in Projected Trade
In this scenario, the Seahawks could send a 2026 second-round pick, a 2026 fifth-round pick, and a 2027 fifth-round pick to get their hands on Moore. That might sound steep, but it makes sense based on Seattle's need and what the veteran playmaker brings to the table.
Sam Darnold has continued his late-career surge, and he's been quite solid in his first month with the Seahawks. However, they're quite shorthanded at wide receiver after moving on from DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is surging as a legitimate star, but other than him and veteran Cooper Kupp, Seattle doesn't have any other legitimate options.
No matter how you slice it, JSN and Kupp can't carry Seattle alone forever. That's why Moore makes so much sense to move to the Rainy City.
So far through four games, Moore has hauled in 16 of 21 targets for 173 yards and one touchdown. He's also had six carries for 15 rushing yards. Needless to say, that's not the type of heavy usage the fans anticipated for him this season, and a change in scenery might help get him back to his true self.
Getting rid of Moore's contract, which is signed through 2029, would open up space for Burden to be more involved in the passing game. So far, he's only had one big game and is only averaging two targets per outing. Without Moore, Burden could be unleashed, and having less money on the financial books would help extend him when his rookie contract is over.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks can afford Moore's contract. Spotrac lists them as currently having over $22.3 million in cap space (6th-most in NFL), and that number will increase to over $92 million in 2026.
Moore is a big-bodied wideout with four seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards in his career, so it's not like the Bears necessarily have to get rid of him. Still, if the opportunity is there, and they can get some valuable assets, financial relief, and give their promising rookie a bigger workload because he's no longer there, so be it. He's a holdover from before the Johnson era, after all.
As for the Seahawks, they seem to be the best team in the NFC West, but that might not be enough to make some noise in the conference. Adding another weapon like Moore could change everything for Darnold and the passing game. Perhaps general manager Ryan Poles will have to call his Seattle counterpart to get the ball rolling.