BUFFALO, N.Y. — Josh Allen finally has his undisputed top target. Or does he? The Buffalo Bills trade for DJ Moore sent shockwaves through the league earlier this offseason, but the ink is barely dry and rival front offices are already panning the deal. General manager Brandon Beane shipped a 2026 second-round pick to the Chicago Bears, absorbing 40 million dollars in guarantees to bring the veteran receiver to Western New York.
Out with the military-style rigidity, in with the raw offensive firepower. After the Bills fired Sean McDermott in January following another playoff heartbreak, owner Terry Pegula promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach. Brady immediately went to work reshaping the roster to insulate Allen.
I stood near the tunnel at Highmark Stadium during the playoffs last January. The stadium shook as the clock hit zero against the Broncos, but you could feel the collective groan of a fanbase exhausted by falling short. Allen looked completely drained. He needed a true enforcer on the perimeter—someone who bullies cornerbacks and fights for every single yard. Moore fits that description perfectly. He does not just run routes; he punishes defenders.
Here is exactly what Buffalo gave up to get him:
Despite the obvious need, front offices across the AFC think Chicago fleeced Buffalo. In a recent poll conducted by Mike Sando of The Athletic, league executives tore into the Bills’ front office for taking the bait on a player the Bears were allegedly ready to dump.
“D.J. Moore was gonna get cut, and they gave up a second-round pick to get him. They gave up a second-round pick and $40 million (in guarantees). What is going on?”
— Anonymous NFL Executive, via The Athletic
The skepticism stems from Moore’s recent production dip. Playing in a dysfunctional Chicago offense in 2025, Moore posted a career-low 50 catches for 682 yards. He is heading into his age-29 season, leaving scouts wondering if his best football is already behind him.
“DJ Moore has two years of regression now. He is a non-traditional receiver that wins with size and yards after the catch. I still feel they needed someone that could win down the field… his strength is on the underneath catch-and-run stuff, which they already have with Khalil Shakir.”
— AFC Executive, via The Athletic
Buffalo is betting the house that Moore’s dip in production was a Chicago problem, not a DJ Moore problem. Brady wants to run a physical, downhill offense that relies heavily on James Cook and quick, punishing throws. Moore thrives in the exact chaotic, broken-play situations where Allen makes his living.
One opposing executive actually sees the brilliance in the madness, noting that Moore’s physical style matches his new quarterback perfectly.
“A non-traditional receiver for a non-traditional quarterback. It’s not like Josh picks you apart. He overwhelms you. To operate on time, they are one of the best running teams in football, and it’s smokes and tunnel screens and jailbreaks on early downs in the pass game, getting the ball out of his hands.”
— Anonymous NFL Executive, via The Athletic
The AFC East is a meat grinder this season. If Moore returns to his 1,300-yard form, Beane looks like a genius and the Bills immediately elevate their Super Bowl odds. If Moore continues to regress, Buffalo just threw away a premium draft asset and tied up their salary cap on a declining asset right as the Joe Brady era begins.
