It was known that the Chicago Bears might end up trading DJ Moore this offseason. The primary reason for it was cap-related. The team was over the salary cap, and Moore counted $28.5 million against it going into next season. They have multiple young weapons ascending in the offense. Moving him felt like the logical thing to do. It was only a question of finding a taker. Mere days before the start of free agency, it appears that goal was accomplished as reports surfaced that the Bears worked out a deal with the Buffalo Bills for the veteran receiver.

It makes sense for both sides. Chicago needed to shed salary to create some operating room. Moore had lost some of his importance in the offense under head coach Ben Johnson. Conversely, the Bills have been desperately seeking weapons for Josh Allen. Moore gets to play on a contender with one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. This feels like a win-win situation for both sides. Right now, it’s believed a mid-round pick will be received as compensation, but details remain forthcoming.

DJ Moore carved his place in Bears history.

He had one of the best seasons a receiver has ever produced in Chicago, with over 1300 yards in 2023. Then he made arguably the greatest catch of at least the past decade with that iconic overtime snag against the Green Bay Packers in December. Fans will forever remember him for those accomplishments, along with the game-winner against those same Packers in the playoffs. Alas, the cold business of the NFL always catches up eventually. His diminishing production and the team’s cap issues made this move almost inevitable.

Chicago gains $16.5 million in cap space. Along with Drew Dalman’s $10 million return for retiring, the team is now under the salary cap. With a few more moves, including the trade or release of Tremaine Edmunds, Bears general manager Ryan Poles should have enough operating space to conduct business. Adding an extra draft pick to make it a total of eight this year doesn’t hurt either. Williams still has Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and Colston Loveland as his primary targets in the passing game. Things should work out fine.

Update: Compensation revealed

Per Tom Pelissero, the Bears will receive a 2026 second-round pick for D.J. Moore and a 2026 fifth-round pick. This now gives Chicago three picks in the first two rounds of the upcoming NFL Draft. Ryan Poles is back in the kitchen cooking. This grants the team tons of flexibility in regards to what they want to do. They could package that pick and others to go after Maxx Crosby, as has been rumored. Or they could use them in the upcoming draft to help reload the defense and offensive line. Poles loves moving around in the draft, so that pick could help secure even more via trades.

As of now, the Bears have four picks in the first three rounds of this draft. That number could increase if the NFL rules in their favor on the Ian Cunningham compensatory pick issue. Trading Tyson Bagent would also likely add to it. This is a great setup as the team looks to retool its roster into something head coach Ben Johnson wants. Speed is a priority, so expect that to be the focus when the action starts next month. It’s amazing to think Moore made it all possible.

The Las Vegas Raiders have been hearing plenty of offers for Maxx Crosby since it became clear that trading the star pass rusher is almost unavoidable. However, none have been the premium package they’re seeking, which is the Micah Parsons deal of two 1st round picks and a quality player. This isn’t a huge surprise. Crosby is older than Parsons and is also coming off knee surgery. Such factors always lower the price tag somewhat. Not to mention, most experts agree this is a great year for needing edge rush help in the draft.

That hasn’t stopped the Chicago Bears from being squarely in the mix for Crosby. They feel his dominant presence could be the missing piece for their front, alongside Montez Sweat and Gervon Dexter. It’s also been reported that Crosby prefers Chicago to other potential destinations, wanting the opportunity to play with Caleb Williams and for Ben Johnson. However, one issue is complicating the situation. It has to do with Crosby’s current contract, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.

Multiple sources indicate the Chicago Bears are a team to watch in potentially dealing for Crosby. The Bears aren’t the only team with interest in Crosby — the Dallas Cowboys are lurking, according to sources — but they could be best positioned to do a deal if one can be done. The new league year begins March 11…

…If Crosby is willing to play this upcoming season on his current deal, that would sweeten the offers for Las Vegas. If Crosby wanted a raise, that would lessen the compensation sent to the Raiders. At least one high-ranking source tells CBS Sports it is his belief Crosby would play this season under his current contract.

The Bears have their normal allotment of draft picks for 2026, but Chicago can still be aggressive to land a top-tier player thanks to having one more year of Caleb Williams playing on his rookie contract.

Maxx Crosby would be a bargain at his current contract.

That may sound odd, considering the man earns $35.5 million per year. However, you must view it in the context of his position. As of writing this, Crosby is the sixth-highest-paid edge rusher in the NFL. Parsons’ new deal from Green Bay is for $46.5 million per year. There is a good chance others will soon surpass Crosby’s number, like Travon Walker, Jared Verse, and Will Anderson Jr. That means his current price tag will only get cheaper by comparison, and he’s under contract through 2029. If Crosby isn’t planning to hold out for more money, then it’s a highly appealing situation.

So you can understand why the Raiders believe they can get a sweeter deal despite the health and age factors. Chicago already has salary cap problems, but they will be able to wiggle out of them next year. All they have to do is navigate this season. Taking on Maxx Crosby would be challenging, but it would get much easier in the following years as the salary cap keeps rising. Everything depends on how high Bears general manager Ryan Poles is willing to go with his offer. It’s hard to imagine he ponies up two 1st round picks.

What happens if the Bears get Crosby?

Navigating the salary cap becomes the primary issue. We already know Tremaine Edmunds will be traded or cut by next week, which will bring $15 million in cap space. This also increases the likelihood that D.J. Moore is traded, which would fetch another $16 million. You can also assume the Bears will restructure a couple of deals, like Sweat and Joe Thuney, to clear more space. This would ensure they can get Maxx Crosby on the books safely and still have some money left over to address other positions.

There is no predicting situations like this. They become so fluid. Other teams have more draft currency to offer than the Bears. If they go all in, there is little the team can do. However, if the price tag hovers around what it should be for a 1st-round and a day-two pick, then they should be in it. If Crosby’s opinion holds any weight at all with the organization, then Chicago has a shot. If a deal is to happen, we will likely see it before the draft next month at the latest.

Drew Dalman retiring is a kick to the gut for the Chicago Bears. This team has worked for over a decade to secure that position, trying all sorts of names. Some worked a little better than others, but nobody stood out as a clear solution. Dalman seemed to change that with his Pro Bowl campaign last season. Now he’s stepping away from football at age 27, leaving a massive void in the middle of the Bears’ offensive line. So what do GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson do now?

Let’s start with the obvious. Don’t expect the team to find their answer in the draft. It’s not the best year for find a true day one starter in this class. Besides, Johnson will want a veteran in the middle who can help make life easier for quarterback Caleb Williams, calling protections and getting guys aligned properly. The big fish of free agency is Tyler Linderbaum from Baltimore. Chicago already hosted veteran Tyler Biadasz for a visit. However, the one who may actually fit this team the best is Connor McGovern.

Connor McGovern can do everything Drew Dalman did.

The 28-year-old had the best season of his career for the Buffalo Bills in 2025, allowing just 18 pressures on Josh Allen in 19 games and helping pave the way for James Cook and their #1-ranked rushing attack. Unfortunately for Buffalo, they don’t have the cap space to hand McGovern the extension he deserves. Thus, he will be a free agent next week. When looking at the scouting reports about him, you start to see traits that Johnson and offensive line coach Dan Roushar would immediately gravitate to.

Starting experience as both a guard and center. NFL body type with broad upper body and good lower-body thickness. Works well in double teams. Can punch and carry target while the double block settles in. Stays wide and can play wide. Good catch-run-and-secure transitioning on zone blocks. Bends effectively for desired pad level. Able to dig opponents anchor out on down blocks. Consistent hand placement as run blocker. Not easily bull-rushed. Can open hips and make athletic recoveries when beaten. Decent redirect power in pass protection.

A center in this offense must be smart, tough, athletic, and a strong run-blocker like Drew Dalman was. McGovern is all of those things and might actually be a better pass protector. His anchor against power is something Dalman never really possessed. The challenge will be money. Projections have McGovern commanding around $16 million per year. That is a lot less than Linderbaum ($25 million) but more than Dalman’s cost ($14 million). Are the Bears willing to foot the bill?

McGovern would plug the hole, but at a price.

If the Bears move to sign him, any chance they may have of trading for Maxx Crosby dies. They can’t afford to pay McGovern what he’ll command and secure the star pass rusher as well. Given what we know about this team’s power structure, it feels like Johnson would push to settle the center position. They need to ensure Williams is adequately protected for that offense to work. From there, they will have to rely on mid-tier free agents and the draft to address other roster issues, such as left tackle, the defensive line, and the secondary.

It’s a challenging job, but one the Bears must face. They have a strong core in place. That is the good news. If they manage their resources appropriately, they should be able to keep the team strong enough to once again challenge in the NFC. The one thing they must not do is overreach themselves. One player alone won’t get them where they want to go. McGovern would be a good first step, though. Convincing him to join the roster without breaking the bank will be the hard part.

Many thought the matter was closed, but it appears things remain in limbo at the moment. Chicago Bears fans have cried foul for weeks, saying the team isn’t receiving two compensatory picks for assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, who was recently hired by the Atlanta Falcons as their GM. However, a technicality in the NFL rulebook states the person must be the “head football decision-maker” in the building. Since Matt Ryan was given the job of president of football operations, he is considered that guy, despite repeatedly stating that Cunningham would run the show.

So basically, the Bears got screwed because of a job title.

GM Ryan Poles revealed he’d sent an appeal to the NFL through official channels, arguing that the spirit of the rule has been met. Cunningham is a minority candidate who was given direct control of the roster on his new team. That meets the requirements. As of now, the Bears haven’t heard back from the league. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune believes that time is coming. Based on the typical NFL schedule, the full draft order, including compensatory picks, will be set before the start of the new league year next week.

Poles believes the Bears deserve the extra picks. Cunningham said the same thing. As best I understand it, neither franchise believes there’s a great chance the league will shift its stance on the situation. The Bears can hold out hope though…

…We ought to know before long. The last three years, the league has announced the complete draft order and distribution of compensatory picks between March 8 and March 11.

Losing Ian Cunningham for nothing will hurt this year, especially.

Not only are the Bears light on salary cap space and draft capital, but they just lost starting center Drew Dalman to a surprise retirement. That opens yet another key roster spot they need to fill. Those two compensatory picks would be a massive help in their efforts to retool the roster. Right now, the general feeling is the NFL won’t shift its position. The league has a reputation for sticking close to the rulebook, even if it’s unreasonable in the public eye. It would be quite a departure if it reversed course and ruled in their favor.

Much of this may center on the contract Ian Cunningham signed. If the language explicitly states that he is the organization’s head football decision-maker, that might be enough for the league to change its initial ruling. If the Bears get a favorable outcome, they suddenly have eight picks in this draft, including four in the first three rounds. That would give them ample opportunities to infuse the roster with more young talent. If it doesn’t? That might only make the Rooney Rule look even weaker, which is the opposite of what the NFL has wanted.

Everything will come into focus by early next week. Until then, all the Bears can do is conduct other important business. Don’t be surprised if some trades start happening soon as well.

Last week, the Chicago Bears‘ business began when they granted linebacker Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade. It wasn’t a huge surprise. The veteran had become too expensive for them to keep around with their salary cap issues. Removing him from the books would net $15 million in space. The only question was whether they could get something in return for him. Most don’t think so. Why trade for somebody destined to be cut? The simple answer is that teams who really want him don’t want to risk another team luring him away in the open market.

That is why it was never completely crazy that Chicago might find a suitor for Edmunds’ services. If we follow the breadcrumbs, it appears they may have a bite, courtesy of notorious Twitter (X) insider Rickey213. He posted on a New York Giants forum that the team is planning to trade for a linebacker.

Rickey213 has earned a reputation for surprisingly accurate information going back over the past few years. He broke Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff, and Amon-Ra St. Brown, all getting their contract extension before everybody else. He’s also correctly pinpointed eventual trades. This revelation about pursuing a linebacker makes sense, and people close to the Giants think they know who it is.

This Tremaine Edmunds idea makes logistical sense.

New York needs serious help at linebacker. That hasn’t been a secret. Edmunds is a quality veteran who is still only 28 years old. Their new defensive coordinator, Dennard Wilson, prefers linebackers who can function in coverage. Edmunds had four interceptions last season despite missing a month with an injury. Conversely, the Bears need pass rush help. New York can’t afford to pay Kayvon Thibodeaux because they’ve already given Brian Burns a huge contract and must retain funds for when they’ll need to do the same with Abdul Carter.

Thibodeaux is in the final year of his contract, just like Edmunds is. Swapping the two players makes sense. Each fills a critical need for the other team. If Thibodeaux excels, the Bears can either extend him or let him hit free agency, where he’ll likely fetch them a compensatory 3rd round pick. New York has lots of cap space clearing up after this year, so they could extend Edmunds if he performed well for them. More importantly, neither team gives up draft picks, which will ease any fan backlash.

NFL Player-for-Player Swaps since 2000

This idea was hinted at last week.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN indicated that the Giants were among three teams interested in Edmunds. New head coach John Harbaugh often prefers to build his teams through a defensive identity. It’s what brought him so much success in Baltimore. Tremaine Edmunds is the type of long, athletic linebacker he usually prefers. More than anything, it’s his winning experience that will appeal to the Giants. Edmunds has now made the playoffs with both Buffalo and Chicago. That mentality will hopefully carry over to New York.

Free agency begins next Tuesday. Teams often prefer to get trades done before then. The Bears are no exception, having worked out the Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney deals at the same time last year. If something happens with Edmunds, it will be in the next five days. Maybe the Giants are the landing spot, or maybe another team swoops in at the last minute. As always, it is a fluid situation.