Bears Face Receiver Depth Concerns After DJ Moore Trade

Chicago Bears' wide receiver depth in question following offseason trade of DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 12:59am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Chicago Bears made a major offseason move by trading wide receiver DJ Moore and a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills for a 2026 second-round pick. While the trade netted the Bears a valuable draft asset, it has raised concerns about their wide receiver depth heading into the 2026 season. Analyst Mark Grote of 104.3 The Score expressed worries about the team's ability to replace Moore's production, with uncertainty around players like Luther Burden, Rome Odunze, and others stepping up.

Why it matters

The Bears are looking to build on their NFC North division title in 2025 and make a deeper playoff run. Losing a productive receiver like DJ Moore could hamper their offensive capabilities, especially with quarterback Caleb Williams entering his second season. The team will need to address their receiver depth, either through the draft or free agency, to ensure they have enough playmakers to support their young QB.

The details

The Bears traded Moore, a 28-year-old wide receiver, and a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a 2026 second-round selection. Moore had 50 catches for 682 yards and 7 touchdowns for the Bears in 2025. The team is now relying on players like Luther Burden, Rome Odunze, and Colston Loveland to step up and fill the void left by Moore's departure.

  • The Bears traded DJ Moore and a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in March 2026.
  • The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in April 2026, where the Bears could look to add a wide receiver to bolster their depth.

The players

DJ Moore

A 28-year-old wide receiver who was traded by the Chicago Bears to the Buffalo Bills in March 2026.

Caleb Williams

The Bears' starting quarterback, entering his second season in 2026.

Luther Burden

A wide receiver for the Chicago Bears who is expected to play a larger role in the offense following the trade of DJ Moore.

Rome Odunze

A wide receiver for the Chicago Bears who is expected to improve in his second season and help replace the production of traded receiver DJ Moore.

Colston Loveland

A tight end for the Chicago Bears who is expected to contribute to the passing game in 2026.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I think I could depend on Luther Burden to keep up what he did last year. I think we can depend on Rome [Odunze] to be better than he was last year. I think I'm certainly depending on him to be that. I think we're in a pretty safe place. We haven't mentioned Colston Loveland because he's a tight end, but I'm pretty sure he's on the upswing.”

— Mark Grote, Analyst, 104.3 The Score

“The rest of it, I can't slam dunk Jahdae Walker. I can't do it for Kalif Raymond. So it'll just be interesting to see what they continue to add. Do they draft somebody? I don't know if they would do that, but it'll be interesting to see.”

— Mark Grote, Analyst, 104.3 The Score

What’s next

The Bears will have the opportunity to address their wide receiver depth in the 2026 NFL Draft, which takes place in April. They could look to add a Day 2 or Day 3 pick to bolster the position and ensure they have enough playmakers to support quarterback Caleb Williams.

The takeaway

The Chicago Bears' trade of DJ Moore has raised concerns about their wide receiver depth heading into the 2026 season. The team will need to find a way to replace Moore's production, either through internal development or by adding new talent in the upcoming draft, to ensure they have a well-rounded offense to support their young quarterback Caleb Williams and make a deep playoff run.