When the Chicago Bears’ season ended without a Super Bowl appearance, the loss didn’t linger long. Almost immediately, attention shifted to the offseason — and to the financial reality waiting for them.
For the first time under Ryan Poles, the Bears enter the spring on the wrong side of the salary cap. According to Over The Cap, Chicago sits roughly $5.3 million over the limit, a number that forces uncomfortable conversations rather than gradual tweaks.
Championship windows don’t stay open by accident. They’re maintained by decisions that often feel unpopular.
Several familiar names have already surfaced as potential departures. Jaquan Brisker. Cole Kmet. Braxton Jones. All contributors. All replaceable under the right circumstances.
But one situation feels heavier than the rest.
DJ Moore.
Moore arrived in Chicago as part of the blockbuster trade that helped deliver Caleb Williams to the Bears. At the time, he symbolized credibility — a proven receiver capable of stabilizing a young quarterback’s development.
Over three seasons, Moore delivered steady production. In 51 games, he totaled 244 receptions, 3,012 yards, and 20 touchdowns. Those numbers don’t suggest failure. But trends tell a more complicated story.
Each season, Moore’s output declined.
In 2023, he looked like a true No. 1 option, surpassing 1,300 yards. In 2024, efficiency dipped. In 2025, his role shrank dramatically as the offense evolved around new priorities.
The emergence of Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III changed the geometry of Chicago’s passing game. Targets redistributed. Schemes adjusted. Moore didn’t disappear — but he stopped being the focal point.
That shift matters when weighed against his contract.
Moore signed a four-year, $110 million extension in 2024, tying him to Chicago through the 2029 season. On paper, that suggests security. In reality, it creates rigidity.
Cutting Moore outright is nearly impossible. A pre–June 1 release would trigger $35.4 million in dead money. Even a post–June 1 move would still leave Chicago swallowing $27.4 million.
That leaves one realistic path: a trade.
It’s not an easy solution. Moore carries an identical $28.5 million cap hit in each of the next three seasons, a figure that narrows the market considerably. But recent history suggests it’s not impossible.
Just last year, the 49ers navigated a similar situation with Deebo Samuel and still found a taker willing to absorb the salary in exchange for modest draft compensation. All it takes is one team with cap space and urgency.
If such a team emerges, Chicago gains flexibility. Cap relief could be redirected toward roster weaknesses that became apparent during their Super Bowl push — especially on defense and in the trenches.
If no deal materializes, the Bears face a different dilemma. An expensive veteran receiver whose role may continue shrinking in an offense trending younger and more distributed.
That tension defines Moore’s offseason.
There’s been no public frustration. No cryptic messaging. No indication that Moore wants out. But timing matters. With Super Bowl LX in the books, decision-makers no longer have the luxury of waiting.
Moore has been professional. Reliable. Productive enough.
But the NFL isn’t sentimental. It’s mathematical. And right now, the math is pressing Chicago toward a decision it didn’t expect to face so soon.
Whether Moore ultimately stays or goes, the feeling is hard to shake. One foot still stands in Chicago. The other feels closer to the door than it ever has.
And as the Bears chase the moment that slipped away this year, that balance may not hold much longer.
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