Monday, June 9, 2025

Chicago Bears Briefly Considered A Wild Trade Plan

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They say sometimes the most important move is the one you don’t make. In 1983, the Chicago Bears almost flipped the #6 pick to the Los Angeles Raiders for defensive end Howie Long. Nobody is certain why it fell through, but it ultimately did. While getting the future Hall of Fame pass rusher would’ve been amazing, it also meant the Bears wouldn’t have drafted Jimbo Covert. Most of the moves a team doesn’t make rarely come to light. However, when they do, it can lead to fascinating what-if discussions.

For a short time this offseason, the Bears had the makings of a plan in place. According to a source, the idea was that the team would trade wide receiver D.J. Moore to an interested party and then trade the assets received in a package for star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson from Cincinnati. It was felt that Ben Johnson could handle the loss of Moore on offense, while the defense got a massive upgrade from Montez Sweat. Ultimately, the Bears got cold feet and never pressed the matter.

The Chicago Bears were probably right to nix the idea.

No doubt the trade would’ve been hugely beneficial to the defense. A Sweat-Hendrickson combination would’ve been lethal. However, it also would have been temporary and weakened Caleb Williams’ arsenal of weapons. Moore is liked and respected in the locker room. Johnson feels he can be a huge benefactor of the new offense. Hendrickson turns 31 this year. There is no telling how much gas is left in the tank. Moore is 28. Wide receivers tend to have longer shelf lives than defensive linemen. It was probably the wise decision.

Finding that second pass rusher remains a priority for the Chicago Bears. The goal is to do so without weakening another part of the roster to make it happen. Until then, they’re content with who they have.

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9 COMMENTS

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rcheezy
rcheezy
Jun 9, 2025 1:50 am

Our defense is looking solid and our pass rush is improved. No reason to sell the farm for a short term player, especially when we don’t know what this teams capable of yet. We’ll have some more draft picks next year. Just draft one.. or try to. We need an offense more then we need a defense right now. Our defense is already good enough to keep us in games.

TGena
TGena
Jun 8, 2025 11:51 am

@PoochPest — Your posts are always thought-provoking. So, allow me to add to your “bird in hand” thoughts on this talented Bears WR. DJ Moore is a phenomenal player — when he is the primary focus of an offensive scheme. Because Moore has not been a contributing factor to a NFL playoff quality team yet, it is difficult to predict if that diminished role will be enough to sustain his interest. That may sound strange — but many of us are familiar with the idiom describing “a big fish in a small pond.” DJ Moore excels in that role. Hopefully,… Read more »

PoochPest
Jun 7, 2025 11:15 pm

My conservative nature shudders at the idea of trading DJ Moore (bird in hand) because they drafted Lutheran Burden (one in the bush).
Our world is filled with idiotic contemplations, that “I’m going to start a business ” because someone else is making so much money having a business.
It would be better to actually KNOW something, than assume it can be done because it’s a “great idea.”
Burden, right now is a “great idea.” Moore is “knowing something.”
We all have “great ideas.”

Dr. Steven Sallie
Dr. Steven Sallie
Jun 7, 2025 6:15 pm

See how vengeful Veece the fleece is such a sleaze because I put him in his place so many times. I never attacked him first, but I certainly hold my ground and more against a wanna-be who tries so hard to be something that is out of his reach. He is a real pity.

Last edited 1 day ago by Dr. Steven Sallie
Krisanthony
Krisanthony
Jun 7, 2025 5:30 pm

BS source, and article. Sorry, but the Bears didn’t seriously discuss trading DJ. Don’t know why people are so eager to believe the nonsense from the moment they drafted Burden that it meant DJ, who has been pro bowl caliber WR, would be traded. It’s the laziest form of gossip.

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