The Chicago Bears seemingly have an obvious decision to make regarding DJ Moore's offseason fate. The veteran wide receiver's statistics have regressed each of the past two seasons, making it hard to be excited about his looming $28.5 million cap hit for the 2026 season. Looking to trade Moore seems a likely path with both Luther Burden and Rome Odunze remaining on their rookie deals for the foreseeable future.
However, it doesn't seem that this is the line of thinking from general manager Ryan Poles, who praised Moore with his comments on 670 The Score on Wednesday:
"I'll use his words — he didn't care about stats,” Poles said of Moore. “All he cared about was winning. That’s the most winning DJ has ever had since his high school. That's all he cares about... We got a lot of decisions to make and figuring that out. I think what stood out about DJ this year is the level of toughness rubbed off on our team."Ryan Poles, Bears GM
Poles went on to say that "dinged-up" players felt motivated to play after seeing Moore battle through injuries, making it clear that the Bears' GM is a massive fan of the playmaker's work ethic.
At the same time, those aren't the words of a GM looking to part ways with a player, but looking beyond the numbers and praising Moore's toughness as well as the tone he sets for the rest of the roster. As valuable as this might be, there is no denying that the freed-up cash that comes with moving on from Moore is too enticing to ignore. That type of extra cash could help maximize the Bears' Super Bowl window, giving Poles plenty to consider this offseason.
Bears Need to Trade DJ Moore or Restructure His Contract
Poles might be completely correct that Moore is incredibly valued in the locker room and on the field due to his leadership. This isn't a trait that the Bears should overlook; however, winning a championship demands a level of accountability. That is Chicago's ultimate goal, and to put it simply, Moore isn't living up to expectations, even if he is excelling as a leader and tone setter.
Moore started his Chicago career in 2023 with 1,364 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. The receiving total dropped to 966 yards the following season and dipped all the way to 682 receiving yards in the 2025 season. This further supports the argument that cutting ties might be the way to go.
With this in mind, Poles really has no choice but to either seek out a trade for Moore or convince the veteran to re-work his deal. The latter is the more appealing option, keeping Moore rostered and hoping that the production returns. Chicago is dealing with depth concerns at the position, and there is still reason to believe that Moore can put together another productive year as quarterback Caleb Williams' development continues.
At the end of the day, Moore will either have to make a sacrifice to stay in the Windy City or prepare to put on another team's uniform next season. As much as his leadership is appreciated, the Bears can seriously upgrade their roster with the savings a potential divorce would bring, making it interesting to see what Poles will do in the coming months.