If there's one thing Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills were lacking heading into the NFL offseason, it's a true No. 1 weapon on the outside. The Bills wide receiving corps didn't offer much last season, and Keon Coleman hasn't turned into the player Buffalo thought he could become. On Thursday, Buffalo addressed that need, trading for Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore.
Moore had a down season in 2025, his first in Ben Johnson's offense. Some of that can be blamed on attrition, but Moore is just 28 years old. He should be entering the tail end of his prime. The Bills are banking on a bounce-back season from a player who had 1364 receiving yards just two years ago.
Bears trade DJ Moore to the Bills: Who won the deal?
The Bills got the best player in this trade, no matter who Chicago selects with the mid-round pick Buffalo sent back. Moore is still a capable WR1. The Bears could just afford to part with him, as they selected Rome Odunze and Luther Burden in the last two drafts. Add in Colston Loveland, and the Bears have a completely capable wide receiver corps without Moore.
Bills trade grade: C+
Bears trade grade: B
Turning a disposable wide receiver (from the Bears point of view) in Moore into a second-round pick is impressive work from Bears general manager Ryan Poles. With the depth of this year's wide receiver class, they could replace much of Moore's production with that very selection.
Why the Bills traded for DJ Moore
The Bills need a weapon on the outside that they can trust. Perhaps Coleman one day develops into that player, but Buffalo's receiving corps looks a whole lot better with Moore as the central piece of it. That by no means should suggest they're done adding, either, as the Bills window is closing rapidly.
Position | Starter | Backup |
|---|---|---|
WR1 | Stefon Diggs | Joshua Palmer |
WR2 | Keon Coleman | Gabe Davis |
WR3 | Khalil Shakir | Tyrell Shavers |
Two of Moore's best seasons in the NFL came under Joe Brady in Carolina, so it should come as little surprise that the former Panthers offensive coordinator – now in charge of the Bills – was interested in a reunion.
Coleman's future is up in the air as well. The former first-round pick could be trade bait for the Bills, so there's no guarantee he's around next season, along with several of the players featured on the depth chart above. Don't be surprised if Buffalo keeps adding through the draft and elsewhere.
Why the Bears traded DJ Moore away
The Bears were able to send Moore elsewhere because of their deep receiving corps, which includes Odunze and Burden. Loveland's performance in the Bears playoff victory over the Green Bay Packers is the only evidence fans need to showcase how much Williams trusts the young tight end in big moments. Sending Moore away allows this young crop of offensive stars to grow together alongside their quarterback.
Position | Starter | Backup |
|---|---|---|
WR1 | Rome Odunze | Jahdae Walker |
WR2 | Luther Burden III | N/A |
WR3 | Olamide Zaccheaus | Devin Duvernay |
The Bears have a strong core of weapons, including Odunze, Burden and Loveland. Beyond those three, what Ben Johnson's offense is lacking is depth. The draft is a great place to add some of that on the cheap, rather than competing for proven veterans on the free-agent market. One thing this draft class has in abundance is wide receiver depth.