Bears Add Receiver D.J. Moore, Four High Picks In Deal For Top Pick

Opting for the bird in hand, the Bears traded the first overall pick in the upcoming draft to the Carolina Panthers for wide receiver D.J. Moore and a package of picks, including the Panthers’ first-rounder, which is ninth overall.

It remains to be seen if Chicago General Manager Ryan Poles will use that pick to select a player or trade down a second time, continuing to accumulate draft picks. He has stated his belief in building through the draft, rather than free agency.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Bears will receive four picks in addition to Moore. They include the 61st pick in this year’s draft, a first-rounder in ’24 and a second-rounder in ’25. It’s clear that Poles is valuing Moore highly as he enters his age-26 season, apparently believing his presence alongside speedster Darnell Mooney will unlock Justin Fields’ skills as a passer.

Moore is slightly taller than Mooney (at an even 6-feet) but is considered a superior route runner to the Bears’ top target last season. He was a first-round pick from Maryland in the 2018 draft and signed a contract extension with the Panthers last March. The Bears will have him under control for three seasons, at an average salary of $20.6 million.

Moore has adjusted to a changing cast of quarterbacks in his five seasons, turning in a career season in 2021 while the Panthers shuttled the quarterback position between Sam Darnold, Cam Newton and P.J. Walker. He caught 93 passes for 1157 yards that season, his third 1,000-yard season the last four years. He has averaged 73 catches for 1040 yards the last four seasons.

In seeking Moore in the trade for the first overall pick, Poles appears to be acknowledging the shortage of elite wide receivers in free agency. The Bears have the most salary cap flexibility in the NFL but are expected to focus on available linemen, both offensive and defensive.

The Bears saw the situation coming, which prompted them to trade for Pittsburgh receiver Chase Claypool during the season. He currently figures to be eligible for free agency after 2023 but the Bears have the option to extend him and a wide receiver corps intact for a few years, potentially helping Fields develop into a two-way quarterback.

It’s a similar strategy that the Philadelphia Eagles have taken with their quarterback, Jalen Hurts. He was effective as a runner early in his career, like Fields, but took the Eagles to the Super Bowl after they added an All-Pro receiver in A.J. Brown.

The trade signifies Carolina’s intent to take their top choice at quarterback from a group that includes Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Kentucky’s Will Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson. The Bears are likely to get offers for the ninth pick from other teams although Poles has stated his intention to draft an impact player this season, which suggests he’ll have to be blown away to make a second trade in the first round.

Poles had said the Bears would evaluate the quarterbacks in the draft but have decided to give Fields at least one more season to develop. The additional first-rounder in ’24 adds to the ammunition they will have if they feel the need to move up in the first round a year from now, when USC quarterback Caleb Williams is expected to be available.