Bears would not accept Panthers trade without Moore

Former Carolina Panthers wide receiver D.J. Moore. Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Bears reportedly would not accept Panthers trade without D.J. Moore

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 3/12/23

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles was bullish in his ask to move out of the No. 1 overall spot in the 2023 draft and he didn’t back down until his demand was met.

According to a report from Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer, Poles would not accept any deal from the Carolina Panthers for the top pick that didn’t involve receiver D.J. Moore. It was also reported that Carolina tried to offer a 2025 first-round pick instead of Moore, but Poles shut it down.

Chicago ultimately got Moore plus the No. 9 and 61 overall picks this year plus a first-round pick in 2024 and a second-round pick in 2025.

A full list of wide receivers with at least 1,200 scrimmage yards in every season from 2019-2021:

New Bear D.J. Moore pic.twitter.com/b1q90ErL2i
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 11, 2023

Moore, who’s just 25, had a career-high seven touchdown receptions in 2022 to go along with 63 receptions and 888 yards.

He rarely had the same quarterback consistently throwing to him as Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, P.J. Walker and Jacob Eason all saw time under center.

Prior to this year, Moore had three straight 1,100-yard seasons including a career-best 1,175 yards in 2019. He’s also recorded 100-plus targets each of the last four years and he had 85 or more receptions in two of those years.

The Bears now pair Moore, who will step in as their No. 1 wideout, with 25-year-old Darnell Mooney and 24-year-old Chase Claypool.

Mooney is just one year removed from an 81-catch, 1,055-yard season, while Claypool had 55 or more receptions and 850 yards in two of his first three years in the NFL.

D.J. Moore's 364 receptions over the last five seasons would make him third on the Bears' all-time receptions leaderboard, trailing only Walter Payton and Matt Forte. His 5,202 receiving yards would be most in franchise history. And he's only 25 years old arriving to Chicago.
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) March 10, 2023