Bears' Ben Johnson Gets Kudos for DJ Moore Trade

When Ben Johnson took over the Chicago Bears, he brought an entirely new culture to the team, and that became obvious in their 11-6 season which ended with them being No. 1 in the NFC North and a true Super Bowl contender.

So, what was their top move of the offseason?

In a piece published on Wednesday, May 27, Mike Sando of The Athletic names his favorite moves for each NFL franchise during the league’s offseason. “With most major NFL offseason moves complete, it’s a good time to single out a favorite move for each team,” he says in the feature. “This exercise is always easier for some teams than for others, so some of these ‘favorites’ are relative to what’s available.”

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For the Bears, he loves them getting a second-round pick for receiver DJ Moore.

“Moore’s per-game receiving yardage peaked at a career-best 80.2 in 2023, his first year with Chicago,” he states in the piece. “That fell to 56.8 the next season and to a career-low 40.1 under new coach Ben Johnson last season. It was clear where Moore was trending in Chicago after signing a four-year, $110 million extension in 2024.”

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My Take: Why the DJ Moore Move Made Sense for the Bears

It’s true that landing a second-round value from the Bills in return for the Moore trade seems like a smart move for Johnson. The chemistry just wasn’t there for Moore in Chicago anymore, and trading him to a non-rival, even though the Bills are still in the NFC, was strong. It’s just another example of how Johnson is molding this Bears team to fit his vision, and that vision is very specific.

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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 11:42 AM.