Everybody knew there was a strong possibility the Chicago Bears would trade DJ Moore in the offseason. It wasn’t because they’d grown fed up with the veteran wide receiver. Far from it. They loved what he brought to the table. Unfortunately, the NFL is a business, and sometimes it forces you into tough decisions. Chicago was under a serious salary cap crunch. They needed to find ways to create space. One of the easiest was finding a suitor to take Moore’s large contract. Expectations were that they’d probably recoup a mid-round pick in any deal.
So you can imagine the shock when the Bears secured a 2nd round pick from the Buffalo Bills. The trade was met with immediate criticism from several national pundits, calling it a massive overpay. Moore’s recent dip in production didn’t warrant such an offer. It reeked of bad football decision-making on Buffalo’s part. That begged the question. Why were they so desperate to get him? An answer to that finally surfaced via Tyler Dunne of Go Long. It stems from the team’s eagerness to not just find a good receiver, but a good receiver who can get it done in big moments.
DJ Moore has shown he can deliver in the clutch.
When a playoff game is on the line, Brady and Allen need to know they’ve got a true weapon who’ll cook a defender 1 on 1. Here’s thinking Moore still has juice to win that matchup. I’ve gotten to know one coach who worked with him daily. He describes Moore as an unconventional receiver who’s a perfect fit for an unconventional QB like Allen. Some players shrink under pressure, like Diggs in KC. Others rise up. “To me, he’s that guy,” this longtime assistant said. “He’s got the ability to make the plays. When the moment is the biggest? He’s going to make a play.” Expect Moore to see a healthy number of targets and excel in a No. 1 role. The decrease in production last season had nothing to do with him.
The 2025 season was a perfect showcase for that.
Buffalo has been haunted for years by wide receivers who came up short in big spots. It started with Stefon Diggs’ brutal drop against Cincinnati in the 2023 playoffs. Then you had Brandin Cooks getting outmuscled for the ball in overtime against Denver last year, right as the Bills were driving towards the winning score. Wide receiver shortcomings had cost the team at least one shot at a Super Bowl. They know Josh Allen’s window won’t stay open forever. In the absence of a true superstar, they needed somebody who wouldn’t shrink in big spots.
Last season showcased why DJ Moore was a quality option in that regard. It felt like every time the Bears needed a big play, he was the one making it. There was his touchdown catch to regain the lead against Pittsburgh, followed by a big 20-yard connection that helped set up the game-sealing score. Then there was the iconic 46-yard touchdown in overtime to beat Green Bay in December, putting the Bears in sole possession of the division lead. However, the one that probably caught Buffalo’s attention the most was his game-winner against the Packers in the wild card round.
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Everything else lined up pretty easily from there.
DJ Moore already knew Bills head coach Joe Brady. They’d worked together for a couple of seasons in Carolina, during which the receiver had his most productive year in 2020. Then there was the quarterback. Josh Allen plays a freelance style of football that makes him difficult to defend, but also difficult to receive for. Teammates must always be ready to work themselves open when the quarterback scrambles. Moore has tons of experience with this after two seasons playing with Caleb Williams.
With all the details out in the open, it makes more sense why Buffalo felt comfortable giving up what they did. Yes, Moore wasn’t producing at a superstar level. That didn’t mean he wasn’t having an impact. The Bears don’t make the playoffs or win a playoff game without the enormous catches he made in big spots. Buffalo doesn’t need somebody ready to put up 1400 yards and 15 touchdowns. They need somebody who can get the key first down or touchdown in the final two minutes of a postseason contest.
