The decision to ship DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills for a 2026 second-round pick (No. 60) sent shockwaves through the locker room. Moore was the primary security blanket for Caleb Williams during the quarterback’s record-breaking 2025 campaign. By moving Moore, the Bears are betting big on the growth of Rome Odunze and Luther Burden. Chicago isn’t just looking for talent; they are hunting for financial flexibility as Williams enters a critical Year 3 of his rookie deal.
On the other side of the ball, cutting Tremaine Edmunds was a cold-blooded business move. The Pro Bowl linebacker led the team with 112 tackles last season, but his $15 million cap hit was a price Poles was no longer willing to pay for an off-ball defender. The defense, which anchored an 11-6 record and an NFC North title last year, now has a massive void in the middle. D’Marco Jackson is currently slated to step into that “Green Dot” role, though many expect a high-profile signing or a first-round draft pick to follow.
While the exits were loud, the arrival of Garrett Bradbury was a quiet, necessary surgical strike. After Drew Dalman’s sudden retirement, the Bears’ offensive line was a house of cards. Poles acted fast, sending a 2027 fifth-round pick to the New England Patriots to secure Bradbury. He brings a veteran presence to an interior that must protect the franchise’s most valuable asset. The air at Halas Hall is thick with the scent of a complete transformation.
“We want to sustain success. We talk about that a lot. In order to do that, we have to be very calculated with the moves we make. These aren’t easy calls, but they are the right ones for where we’re going.”
— Ryan Poles, Chicago Bears General Manager
All eyes now turn to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. By stockpiling a second-round pick from Buffalo, Poles has the ammo to move up or fill the receiver and linebacker holes with elite, cheap talent. The Bears aren’t rebuilding—they are reloading with a specific vision. The goal is no longer just winning the North; it’s surviving the gauntlet of the NFC playoffs. With $44 million burning a hole in his pocket, Poles is expected to target an elite edge rusher in the second wave of free agency to pair with Montez Sweat.
