Ben Johnson weighs in on the 'emotional' decision to trade DJ Moore and ways the Bears can look to replace him in 2026

It was a difficult process for the top decision-makers in Chicago to come to terms with, even if it was the right decision in the end. Moore joined the Bears back in 2023 as part of the massive trade with the Carolina Panthers, a defining move in the tenure under general manager Ryan Poles.

Throughout the course of three seasons, Moore became a fan-favorite and one of the most dependable players on the entire team that everyone showed immense respect for. Moving on wasn't easy, and replacing him will be even harder.

Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III are primed for a larger share of the offense in 2026

While Moore had his pitfalls at times, he was still a constant presence for the Bears' young wide receiver room that looked up to him. Moore never missed a game during his time in Chicago despite dealing with constant injuries on a weekly basis. He was a pro's pro but now the opportunity is open for other players in the room to step up, including one new face in Chicago.

Let's first start with the returning players. The real onus now is on former first-round pick Rome Odunze. Odunze is entering into his third season with the Bears and ideally can push for early extension talks if he can post a top-level full season in 2026. He had a stellar start to his sophomore season before suffering a foot injury that crippled the remainder of his season. Yet, it wasn't just the injury that hindered Odunze's fast start, he also was credited with five drops on 99 targets, according to Pro Football Focus.

"That’s something we’ll talk about," Johnson said of Odunze's drop concerns. "I don’t think that was a thing for him coming out. I don’t want to speak that into existence. That’s something we’re going to emphasize in the spring: getting back to basics."

Luther Burden III is the other young, exciting, piece the Bears are ready to give a fully loaded plate to on offense. Burden's rookie season started off slow after missing time in the offseason due to a hamstring injury. However, once he got rolling, it was clear he was the team's most dynamic weapon that's just scratching the surface of his potential.

"He is exactly what we thought we were getting out of the draft last year," Johnson said of Burden. "This guy is a dynamic play-maker, he's got some of the best run after the catch in the game right now, I really believe that. We got to continue to get the ball in his hands as often as we possibly can."

Kalif Raymond can help replace that veteran presence after trading away DJ Moore

The lone addition the Bears made to the wide receiver room, thus far, since trading away DJ Moore was signing former Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond. Raymond spent five seasons in Detroit, including multiple years playing for Johnson and WRs coach Antwaan Randle El.

When Raymond became an option on the market, Johnson noted that the offensive staff that came to Chicago from Detroit "absolutely stood on the table" for him, and it's clear the Bears have a plan for what he can bring to the room.

"I’m hoping how he conducts himself in the locker room and on the practice field is contagious for the rest of our group, and they look to him as a model for what it takes to succeed and have longevity in this league," Johnson said in an interview with The Athletic's Dan Pompei. "You need to balance out the youth and energy with a seasoned head, and that’s what 'Lif is."

The Bears have some exciting pieces still in the wide receiver room between Odunze, Burden, and Raymond along with another promising player to continue developing in Jahdae Walker. As tough of a decision that trading Moore was, the Bears are prepared to handle the loss and can even find improvement with this core in 2026.