The Chicago Bears aren’t surrounded by the same flurry of rumors they’ve been in the past few years, but that doesn’t mean they are completely invisible. Salary cap issues mean they have to make some difficult decisions on what to do next. Among the hottest debates among fans and media is what to do with DJ Moore. There is no doubt that the wide receiver played a pivotal role in the team’s playoff push last season. His catches against Green Bay were iconic. However, he counts $28.5 million against the cap next season, and his production took another dip.

Moore had over 1300 yards in 2023, dropped down to over 900 in 2024, and failed to crack 700 last season. Other offensive players began asserting themselves in the passing game, including rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden. The Bears are paying him to play like a star, but the reality is Moore hasn’t been doing that. General manager Ryan Poles was asked about the situation during his opening presser at the scouting combine. He kept his words carefully neutral, insisting the team loves Moore, but left the door open for all possibilities.

“Yeah. I have to have conversations to see what, like I said, the best combination of players we can bring in. We want him here. We think highly of him. He’s a great teammate. He has been productive pretty consistently over the last however many years he’s been here. So I have nothing but great things to say about him. But this is the time now where we have to look at all the different scenarios to see what can allow us to put the best team out there. And I’ve talked about this before. There are relationships there. There’s a lot there that make it really, really difficult. He’s a guy we want here. But we have to look at all the different scenarios.”

DJ Moore is in a complicated spot.

He came up big for the team several times last season. Caleb Williams seems to trust him. Yet his ability to impact games has steadily gone down. Maybe some of it is the new offense under Ben Johnson. Maybe some of it was injuries. Whatever the case, the Bears are left with one reality. They’re paying him more money than Jameson Williams, who had 1,117 yards last season. Smart teams don’t sit around hoping things will improve. More often than not, they make the tough decision to move on.

The Bears aren’t in a bad place. They have plenty of young offensive talent. Loveland, Burden, and Rome Odunze can handle the load in the passing game. DJ Moore is still 29 years old. He can be a playmaker for somebody in need of wide receiver help. It’s merely a question of finding a team that needs one and has the money to handle his contract. Tennessee, Las Vegas, and New England come to mind. Each has or will have young quarterbacks in need of weapons. Moore has experience with that already.

Sometimes tough decisions like this happen.

It is the nature of living in the salary cap era. Sooner or later, you’ll have to unload a player you really like because there is no other option. That is what the Kansas City Chiefs did with Joe Thuney last year. The Bears benefited from that in a huge way. Now they’re on the other side of that coin. Trading DJ Moore isn’t a foregone conclusion, but it sounds like it’s squarely on the table. Poles hasn’t been afraid of the tough decisions in the past. He should be able to find a taker if it comes to that.

As for Moore himself, it seems cruel for him to be in this position. The guy waited his entire career to play meaningful football and finally got the chance last season. Now here the Bears are, knocking on the door of a possible Super Bowl run, and he might be shipped out before getting a chance to experience it. The NFL is a nasty business sometimes.

Former Chicago Bear Rashied Davis joined the Untold Chicago Stories show to share insight about his playing career. Rashied shared stories about playing with Jay Cutler, wiffle ball inside the Bears locker room, his opinion on the DJ Moore playoff controversy, growing up in West LA, and more! His stories capture what it was like to play for the Chicago Bears and deal with adversity while earning his spot in the NFL. Rashied not only shared these stories but also went beyond storytelling, adding emotional insight that fans had never seen before.

From the very beginning, Davis sets the tone for honesty and reflection. Instead of polished soundbites, viewers are treated to a candid conversation about the emotional and mental grind of professional football. He talks about what it felt like walking into Soldier Field, the pressure of fan expectations, and the personal challenges that pushed him to dig deeper — not just for success on the field, but for growth off it.

Whether you lived through the games alongside him or are just discovering his journey, this episode resonates because it feels real. You don’t have to be a die-hard Bears fan to feel the humanity in Davis’s words — what it means to chase a dream, face setbacks, and find your identity both as an athlete and a person.

Some highlights from the video:

• Lance Briggs and other Bears players sneaking out during away games and showing up the next morning
• A game of wiffle ball in the Bears locker room that led to a hospital trip
• The way Lovie Smith expressed emotion without cussing
• His first time using an ATM and opening a bank account
• Gang life and the battle between Crypts and Bloods in the LA projects
• His mother asking him to sign a photo of Bernard Berrian catching a TD over him
• The best football advice he ever received from Mike Martz
• The best football compliment he ever received from Rex Grossman
• What Jay Cutler was like behind the scenes
• Why DJ Moore feels slighted and may be on the move next season
• Responding to our host Colin relentlessly making fun of his crooked finger
• What it was like playing in the Super Bowl
• and more!

The latest episode of Untold Chicago Stories takes fans on a ride from the beginning of Rashied’s playing career, deep into the locker room and life of a Chicago Bears player. You don’t want to miss this episode.

Subscribe to YouTube for more episodes. Our next guest is 3x Pro Bowler Tommie Harris.

Podcast available on Apple, Spotify, and Amazon.

The Chicago Bears don’t have plans to do anything drastic in free agency. They first have to get back under the salary cap, and even then, it will take some work to find spending money. In those situations, teams tend not to do anything overly aggressive. General manager Ryan Poles said at his latest press conference that he’d prefer to avoid kicking the can do the road. This was in reference to the idea of restructuring several contracts. However, sometimes outside circumstances intervene to change your plans.

It isn’t a secret that the Bears are hunting for options at left tackle. Poles confirmed that Ozzy Trapilo’s knee injury isn’t career-threatening, but he may miss the 2026 season. That means they must find somebody reliable who can handle the job for this year. Initial assumptions had them trying to retain Braxton Jones. The coaches like him, and he should be healthy now after a long recovery on Injured Reserve. However, a situation out west might significantly alter their plans.

Apparently, the 49ers and left tackle Trent Williams are at a contract impasse.

The Chicago Bears going after Williams would be justifiable.

If he leaves San Francisco, he instantly becomes one of the best free agents available. People will talk about the fact he turns 38 years old in August. That is fine. It doesn’t change the other fact that he’s still one of the best left tackles in football. He was tied with Penei Sewell as the seventh-highest rated pass protector in the NFL, allowing 40 pressures on a staggering 668 snaps. Oh, and he also had a 92.0 run blocking grade. The man is destined for the Hall of Fame whenever he retires.

Chicago has every reason imaginable to sign him. Think about what a pair he and Joe Thuney could be on the left side of that line. Caleb Williams might never get touched, let alone sacked. It would further open up Ben Johnson’s already dangerous run game. Not to mention, Trapilo would have an outstanding mentor to learn from. He wouldn’t have to rush back from rehab. The Bears could take their time getting that knee right and have their left tackle of the future waiting.

Money will be the challenge in landing Williams.

In his most recent contract, he was making $27.5 million per year. That is a significant investment for a cap-strapped team like the Bears. They would likely need to sign him to at least a two-year deal to soften the cap blow this season. If they do it, that would be the extent of their free agency work. There won’t be anything left but enough money to sign bargain free agents. If done, it would also certainly mean the NFL draft would be almost exclusively devoted to improving Dennis Allen’s defense.

It wouldn’t be a complete all-in move for the Chicago Bears, but it would reduce their financial flexibility going forward. It would be a decision made with the belief that Williams can elevate this team enough to compete for a championship. Remember, they have to find ways to block Micah Parsons and Aidan Hutchinson. In the absence of a long-term option, signing Williams is the obvious play. Coach Johnson’s reputation should also be a significant lure for the superstar blocker, who is chasing a Super Bowl ring.

Multiple reporters insisted that the NFL had ruled that the Chicago Bears would not receive any compensatory draft picks when assistant general manager Ian Cunningham became GM of the Atlanta Falcons. This was because, according to an odd rule, the president of football operations, Matt Ryan, was technically considered the “lead football decision-maker” in the organization. As a result, Cunningham becoming GM was nothing more than a title change, not a true promotion. Never mind that Ryan insisted on two different occasions that every roster decision was Cunningham’s to make.

Well, things took another interesting turn on Tuesday. Bears general manager Ryan Poles stepped to the podium for the first time since January at the scouting combine. The first question was his thoughts on the comp pick issue. It turns out he has been in contact with the NFL about it, believing that, according to the rules in place, the Bears should receive compensation. As of now, he has not gotten a reply on the subject. This means no actual decision has been made yet.

Ian Cunningham echoed Poles’ response.

The new Falcons GM was also at the podium Tuesday morning. He was asked for his take on the situation. From his perspective, Cunningham believes the Bears should receive compensation. While both men admit they wish the Rooney Rule weren’t necessary, the details make it pretty clear that Chicago should get those picks. It’s worth noting that former Bears scouting director Greg Gabriel said weeks ago that no decision was made. He said the NFL would not rule on it until it got the details of Cunningham’s contract.

If Atlanta put it in writing that he was indeed the primary football decision-maker, the Bears would be awarded the picks. A ruling on this probably won’t come until March at the earliest. The Management Council must review it. Until then, the Bears are stuck in limbo. Poles doesn’t have time to dwell on it. He made his case heard and will focus on other business. People may wonder why this is such a big deal. The fact is, every draft pick counts, especially for a team that is limited in spending money.

Two 3rd-round compensatory picks would create additional opportunities for the Bears to find good players.

The Bears did the right thing.

They could’ve made a stink about it. Here are other teams, like San Francisco and Los Angeles, being awarded picks without any fuss after losing key assistants elsewhere. Then the Bears lose one of their key talent evaluators and get nothing because of a technicality. That is a bad look for the league and disincentivizes the rule, because now other teams know all they have to do is give another executive an arbitrary title “above” the GM, so the other team gets nothing in return.

Nothing about that makes sense. This is about fairness. Ian Cunningham was a vital part of the Bears’ front office for four years, helping build them into a contender. They were promised compensation if he was hired elsewhere, as per NFL rules. Whether this incentive should exist at all is irrelevant. Facts are facts. Cunningham is a minority hire. It’s been confirmed that he will hold all roster power. That means the Bears are owed those picks. This isn’t complicated.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Arizona Cardinals had interest in Chicago Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent as a possible option to replace their starting quarterback in 2026. The market for QBs this offseason isn’t good. Both free agency and the draft are low on favorable choices. In such times, teams decide to take calculated risks on young backups who have flashed upside. Bagent is one such option. Apparently, Arizona isn’t the only team having that same thought.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles met with the media at the scouting combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday. He was asked about the Bagent situation. To the surprise of many, he admitted that the team has fielded multiple calls on the young quarterback. Rather than outright saying the team isn’t trading him, he admitted it’s a tricky issue. The Bears must weigh the short and long-term consequences of such a move. For one, head coach Ben Johnson loves Bagent, and the team would have to seek a replacement if he is traded.

On the other hand, getting draft capital back for a player you signed as an undrafted free agent would be a big win for the Bears. Caleb Williams is entrenched as the starter. It makes logistical sense.

Trading Tyson Bagent will come down to price.

If teams are offering 7th, 6th, or even 5th round picks, it doesn’t seem likely the Bears would consider the offer. Losing a quality backup quarterback for selections with such low hit rates is never advisable. However, if you start getting into the 2nd-4th round territory, then it becomes a conversation. Since 2000, there have been seven trades involving a backup quarterback who went to another team and became the starter. Six of the seven involved at least one 2nd round pick.

In other words, if another team wants him, they’ll have to show they’re serious.

Poles knows he has leverage. The veteran market is bleak. Currently, teams have options such as Aaron Rodgers, Daniel Jones (injured), Joe Flacco, and Malik Willis. Expectations are that Arizona will trade Kyler Murray. Not great. Then you look at the draft. Outside of Francisco Mendoza going #1 overall to Las Vegas, there is no certainty that another quarterback is good enough to crack the 1st round. Tyson Bagent has started actual games in the NFL, going 2-2 as a rookie in 2023. He’s looked excellent in each of the past two preseasons. It might be an intriguing dice roll.

This decision likely comes down to Coach Johnson.

He was a driving force behind extending Tyson Bagent last year, having developed a deep fondness for the backup. The Bears coach isn’t likely to unload him for a modest draft pick. It will take a considerable offer. We will find out how high the opinions are of Bagent in the next few weeks. If a trade does happen, it will likely be before the start of the new league year on March 11th. Either that, or a team could make a late play after the draft if they’re unable to land somebody they want.

Poles has no reason to rush a decision. He’s the one holding all the cards. Bagent is under contract for two more seasons. The Bears know they can keep him at a perfectly modest price. This is a situation where they’re not eager to unload the player and don’t have to. Other teams must show they’re serious. They won’t be able to lowball the Bears because the player wants out or costs too much to keep.