A leadership shift is on the horizon at Halas Hall, as the Chicago Bears search for their next head coach.
With personnel changes often come adjustments in offensive strategy, which could lead to some players in leadership roles seeing a reduction in responsibility for the 2025 season. Additionally, some of the Bears’ top players may be traded, and ESPN’s Ben Solak has predicted that the Patriots could make a move for Bears wide receiver DJ Moore in the upcoming offseason.
If DJ Moore’s skill set doesn’t fit with Chicago’s new system, or if the Bears’ new coach prefers a different type of receiver, the team could explore the possibility of trading him. Solak believes the New England Patriots would be a logical trade partner. Here’s his full prediction:
“After failing to land Tee Higgins, the Patriots will make a strong push to acquire a veteran receiver,” Solak wrote on January 6. “DK Metcalf and DJ Moore are the two most likely candidates. The Patriots are willing to trade draft capital for immediate contributors, especially since they plan to trade out of the No. 4 overall pick.”
Chicago Bears Likely Won’t Be Trading DJ Moore Anytime Soon
Moore signed a four-year, $110 million extension with $82.6 million guaranteed last offseason, a move that highlights the commitment from the organization and general manager Ryan Poles. With Poles still in charge, it seems unlikely that a new head coach would want to trade a player the team has just invested in so heavily.
That said, Moore’s contract is structured in a way that makes him tradeable, with a post-June 1 trade potentially saving the Bears $20.9 million against the cap. However, trading away a top receiver like Moore would be a significant setback. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams just wrapped up a strong rookie season, with Moore as his most targeted receiver (140 times), leading the team in both receptions (98) and receiving yards (966).
For the Patriots, adding Moore would be a significant boost to their receiving corps, giving young quarterback Drake Maye a reliable and dynamic target. Moore’s experience and playmaking ability could help accelerate Maye’s development and improve the Patriots’ offense. However, for this to happen, Chicago would have to be willing to trade him. Given Moore’s key role in Chicago’s offense, trading him would be a bold move and feels like a long shot.
Bears QB Caleb Williams Took Time to Develop Chemistry With Moore in 2024
Williams and Moore faced challenges in developing consistent chemistry during their first season together in 2024. In back-to-back losses to the Washington Commanders and Arizona Cardinals in Weeks 8 and 9, Moore recorded only six catches for 60 yards on 11 targets.
“It’s frustrating,” Williams admitted about the slow development of his chemistry with Moore, via NBC Sports. “You’ve got a guy that’s so special, and not being able to connect and hit on certain passes is frustrating for myself. I know it’s frustrating for him because, as a wide receiver especially, you only get so many chances, so many times the ball comes your way.”
Their chemistry improved as the season went on. In the team’s final game of the year, a 24-22 win over the Green Bay Packers, Williams and Moore connected for a key touchdown, with Moore finishing the game with nine receptions for 86 yards.
While the 2024 season had its share of ups and downs for the Bears’ duo, their late-season success offers hope for a more cohesive and productive partnership moving forward. As a result, despite Solak’s prediction, it’s more likely that Moore will remain in Chicago.
