When big blockbuster trades go down, hidden details always come out afterward. It’s what makes them so dramatic. The Chicago Bears became the first team in nine years to trade the #1 overall pick and only the third team to do it since the turn of the millennium. Needless to say, it was a momentous occasion. GM Ryan Poles sent the pick to Carolina in exchange for the 9th overall pick, 61st overall pick, a 1st in 2024, 2nd in 2025, and wide receiver D.J. Moore. That last part caught a lot of people by surprise.
The Panthers don’t have great depth at wide receiver. That they would give up Moore, who is good for 1,000 yards every year, is a testament to how much leverage Poles had. Where it gets even more interesting is who else he had in mind. Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog has been on top of the situation since it started coming together after the combine. It became evident Poles was hunting for wide receiver help, knowing both free agency and the draft were weak. Moore emerged as a viable option, but there was another name the GM had eyes for.
Seems the Chicago Bears came close to a very different outcome.
Michael Pittman has been a solid wide receiver in Indianapolis over the past two seasons, going for a combined 2,007 yards and ten touchdowns. He doesn’t turn 26 until October and has another year left on his rookie contract. The appeal was obvious from the Bears’ perspective. It sounds like they were ready to make a deal with the Colts, but GM Chris Ballard wasn’t willing to include Pittman. Poles made it clear there would be no trade without him. When Carolina finally caved and threw in Moore, that clinched it for them.
Poles wanted a solution at wide receiver before free agency began. Throwing money at the position is not something he desired. The draft also didn’t offer any legitimate prospects that could contribute right away. By securing Moore, the Chicago Bears are free to shift their focus over the next month and a half to rebuilding their depleted offensive and defensive lines. If things go as planned, this offense could be significantly better than it was last season.
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