This season’s Chicago Bears offense certainly feels like an upgrade from last year’s havoc under head coach, Matt Eberflus and co., but there are no doubt more improvements to be made.
One big change has been the difference in the utilization of wide receivers in new head coach, Ben Johnson’s offense. The team’s passing offense has gradually gone, over the past couple of years, from being totally centered around WR1, DJ Moore, to having him as the main piece, to now him becoming the distant second choice in the passing game.
This season, Moore has put up a firmly respectable 331 receiving yards, but he falls well short of second year pro and 2024 first round pick, Rome Odunze‘s 473 yards, which currently leads the team. Odunze also has five receiving touchdowns to Moore’s 1.
So given both his decreased use in the passing game – although he still remains an ever-present part of it – and his large 4 year, $110 million deal signed in the 2024 offseason, which runs through 2029, it has been suggested that the team could look to offload the 28 year old before the wheels fully come off.
DJ Moore Proposed As a Potential Trade Target Soon
This is something that was suggested by ESPN’s Bill Barnwell on October 30th, when he wrote that Moore was a notable trade candidate for the franchise ahead of Monday’s deadline.
“If there’s a prominent player who could unexpectedly make sense as a potential trade candidate at the deadline for me, it’s Moore.” Barnwell wrote on Thursday. “The 28-year-old is starting a four-year, $110 million extension next year, but he hasn’t found a consistent role in Ben Johnson’s offense; he is averaging a career-low 47.3 receiving yards per game.”
Barnwell explains that in the long run, head coach Ben Johnson may decide to use a different offensive personnel grouping – one that may not include Moore, especially with the presence of second round rookie, Luther Burden III.
DJ Moore Trade Could Take Place Now Or In Offseason
Whilst Barnwell does concede that an offseason trade could be the more obvious move for general manager, Ryan Poles and the Bears, it is certainly not out of the question for the organization to pull the plug on the wideout in the next few days – if they get the requisite trade compensation for him.
“I get the sense that Johnson’s preferred option would be to work with 12 personnel when tight ends Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland are healthy or work Luther Burden III into the mix alongside Olamide Zaccheaus and Rome Odunze in three-WR sets. A trade during the offseason would make more sense, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Moore became the odd man out in Chicago.
Moore is by no means toast in Chicago – he is still the #2 guy. But with the prospect of Burden, who the team are hoping can start to find some rhythm on the offense, along with both of the tight ends both having an increased role, this could spell the beginning of the end for the ex-Carolina Panther.
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas
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