DJ Moore Trade Buzz Heating Up: Are the Chargers the Dark Horse Suitor?
The DJ Moore trade chatter isn’t exactly new - it’s been simmering since early in the season when Bears head coach Ben Johnson seemed to publicly question the wide receiver’s role. Since then, the idea of Moore being on the move has picked up steam, especially after a regular season that saw him post career lows in both receptions (50) and receiving yards (782). For a player with Moore’s résumé, those numbers were jarring - and not in a good way.
But Moore didn’t go quietly. In the playoffs, he reminded everyone what he’s capable of, finding the end zone in back-to-back games and drawing 15 targets over that stretch - his most involved two-game span of the year. It was a late-season resurgence that hinted at what could’ve been.
Still, the final play of the Bears’ season left a sour taste. On the interception that sealed Chicago’s fate and sent the Rams to the NFC Championship Game, Moore appeared to either slow down or misread the route.
Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams took the blame, but the film suggests a more nuanced breakdown - one that doesn’t fall squarely on just one set of shoulders. Regardless, it was a tough way to close a turbulent year.
Now, the conversation has shifted from usage to value. With Moore’s cap hit rising and his role in the offense shrinking - especially with young talents like Rome Odunze and Luther Burden emerging - some Bears fans are ready to see the team move on. And for Chicago, parting ways with Moore could create some much-needed cap flexibility.
Enter the Chargers.
In a recent breakdown of potential trade fits around the league, DJ Moore’s name popped up as a target for multiple teams. One of the more intriguing options? The Los Angeles Chargers.
Here’s the logic: The Chargers leaned heavily on Keenan Allen this past season, feeding the 33-year-old veteran a whopping 122 targets. Allen was still productive, no doubt, but with his 34th birthday on the horizon and free agency looming, the Chargers are staring down a major question mark at wide receiver.
Outside of Allen, things get murky. Ladd McConkey is still developing, and the rest of the depth chart is filled with uncertainty. If the Chargers want to maximize Justin Herbert’s prime years - and in the loaded AFC West, they absolutely have to - adding a proven playmaker like Moore makes a lot of sense.
Moore, who turns 29 this year, still has plenty of juice. His down year in Chicago feels more like a product of a shifting offensive identity than a decline in talent. He’s a crisp route-runner with yards-after-catch ability, and in the right system, he can still be a high-volume WR1 or a dynamic WR2 - especially in a pass-heavy offense like LA’s.
From the Bears’ perspective, the timing is right. They’re in a position to field offers and potentially pit interested teams against one another to drive up Moore’s trade value. If the Chargers are serious about retooling their receiving corps, jumping into the mix could force other suitors - like the Titans, who’ve also been linked to Moore - to act quickly.
Bottom line: DJ Moore’s time in Chicago may be nearing its end, but his value across the league is far from diminished. And if the Chargers are looking for a veteran weapon to help Herbert push this offense to the next level, they might just be the dark horse worth watching.