ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills just handed quarterback Josh Allen the ultimate offseason prize. Buffalo is finalizing a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears to acquire star wide receiver DJ Moore. In exchange for the 29-year-old wideout and a 2026 fifth-round pick, Chicago receives a premium second-round selection. The deal becomes official when the new league year opens on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET.
Buffalo takes on Moore’s massive four-year, $110 million extension signed back in 2024. His $23.5 million salary for 2026 is fully guaranteed. To get the deal across the finish line, the Bills agreed to guarantee $15.5 million of his 2028 base salary.
This maneuver clears a massive $16.5 million in 2026 cap space for Chicago. Meanwhile, Buffalo scrambles to find room. Expect the Bills to aggressively restructure contracts in the coming days. Tight end Dawson Knox, carrying a $17 million cap hit after a quiet 417-yard season, stands out as a prime candidate for a pay cut or outright release.
The Buffalo offense sputtered against elite secondaries in 2025. Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir couldn’t shoulder the load alone. The front office watched opposing defenses choke out their passing game, forcing Allen to lean entirely on his tight ends. They needed a true alpha.
Now, Moore reunites with newly minted Bills head coach Joe Brady. Brady orchestrated the best statistical season of Moore’s career back in Carolina in 2020. This duo aims to bring that explosive spark to Highmark Stadium. Allen finally gets a receiver capable of turning a quick five-yard slant into a 60-yard sprint.
“When you have a chance to add a player who demands double coverage every single snap, you don’t hesitate. DJ doesn’t just catch passes; he breaks defenses. We are building something special here, and he is going to be a massive part of it.”
— Joe Brady, Head Coach, Buffalo Bills
General Manager Ryan Poles looked at his roster and chose the future. By moving Moore, the Bears hand the keys to head coach Ben Johnson’s offense directly to quarterback Caleb Williams and his young weapons.
The 2025 rookie class proved they belong. Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland flashed immense potential down the stretch last year. Rome Odunze now steps up as the undisputed top target.
More importantly, the cap relief allows the Bears to aggressively retain their ball-hawking secondary. Cornerback Nahshon Wright led the NFL with eight takeaways last season, and veteran safety Kevin Byard grabbed a league-best seven interceptions. Chicago now possesses the cash to keep defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s elite unit intact before free agency opens.
For Buffalo, this is a Super Bowl-or-bust maneuver. The Bills are betting that Moore is the missing piece to finally conquer the AFC hierarchy. However, adding a star receiver doesn’t fix everything. They still need to plug glaring holes on the interior offensive line and fix a run defense that surrendered the fifth-most yards in the league last season.
Chicago accelerates its timeline. The Bears drop a heavy veteran contract, stockpile draft capital, and clear the runway to pay their defensive stars. If Burden and Odunze take another leap in their development, Chicago possesses the firepower and defensive stinginess to dominate the NFC North for the next half-decade.
