The Chicago Bears are heading into a pivotal offseason, and one of the biggest questions looming over Halas Hall centers on wide receiver DJ Moore. On paper, the decision might seem straightforward: Moore’s production has dipped in each of the past two seasons, and he carries a hefty $28.5 million cap hit for 2026. But when you dig deeper-beyond the box score and into the locker room dynamic-the situation gets a lot more nuanced.
General manager Ryan Poles made that clear during a recent appearance on 670 The Score, where he offered high praise for Moore, not just as a player, but as a tone-setter for the franchise.
“I'll use his words - he didn't care about stats,” Poles said. “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.”
That toughness wasn’t just talk. According to Poles, Moore’s willingness to play through injuries became a rallying point for the roster.
Players who were “dinged up” saw Moore gutting it out and felt compelled to do the same. That kind of leadership doesn’t show up in the stat sheet, but it matters-especially on a young team still figuring out how to win consistently.
Still, leadership alone doesn’t pay the bills-or open up cap space. And that’s where the Bears find themselves in a bind.
Moore’s numbers have taken a clear step back since his explosive 2023 debut in Chicago, when he racked up 1,364 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. In 2024, that total dipped to 966 yards.
This past season? Just 682.
That’s a tough trend to ignore, especially with such a significant financial commitment tied to his contract.
The Bears also have two promising young receivers in Luther Burden and Rome Odunze, both still on rookie deals. That gives Chicago some flexibility and long-term upside at the position-but it also raises the question of whether Moore, at his current price tag, fits into the team’s broader vision.
Poles’ comments don’t sound like those of a GM eager to move on. If anything, they suggest he sees Moore as a foundational piece-not just in the huddle, but in the culture of the team.
But the NFL is a business, and the Bears are trying to build a roster that can contend for a Super Bowl. That means every dollar counts.
So what are the options?
The most logical paths are either a trade or a contract restructure. Trading Moore would free up significant cap space, giving the Bears more flexibility to address other needs and build around quarterback Caleb Williams. On the flip side, a restructure could keep Moore in Chicago while lowering his cap hit, preserving his leadership presence and giving him a chance to bounce back statistically.
There’s also the matter of depth. While Burden and Odunze offer exciting potential, they’re still developing. Moore, even in a down year, brings experience and reliability-two things that are hard to replace, especially for a young quarterback still adjusting to the NFL.
At the end of the day, this decision isn’t just about stats or salary. It’s about value.
What is DJ Moore worth to this team-not just on Sundays, but Monday through Saturday? Can the Bears afford to let go of a player who sets the tone in the locker room, or is the financial upside of moving on too great to pass up?
That’s the tightrope Ryan Poles is walking right now. And while Moore’s future in Chicago remains uncertain, one thing is clear: his impact on this team goes well beyond the numbers. The next few months will reveal whether that impact is enough to keep him in a Bears uniform-or whether the team decides it’s time to turn the page.