The Chicago Bears have been busy since the NFL Scouting Combine ended the pre-free agency portion of the offseason. The Bears have agreed to trade away veteran wide receiver D.J. Moore to the Buffalo Bills. It’s a move that will be made official once the new league year begins.
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Chicago will deal Moore, their leading receiver from the WR spot in 2025, and a 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 164 overall) to the Bills. In return, the Bears will acquire Buffalo’s second-round pick in 2026, No. 60 overall.
This comes on the heels of the surprise retirement of starting center Drew Dalman, who stepped away at age 27 after just one season in Chicago.
Bears draft slots
January 7, 2026; The 2026 NFL Draft logo is displayed atop the NFL Draft countdown clock.
The pending trade will give the Bears two tightly packed selections near the end of the second round. Chicago has its own draft spot at No. 57, and now adds Buffalo’s slot at No. 60. The Bears still have their first-round selection at No. 25 overall.
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Due to prior deals, the Bears still have a sizeable gap in their draft picks on Day 3. Chicago possesses its own fourth-rounder, but then won’t select until the seventh round.
1st round: No. 25 overall
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2nd round: No. 57
2nd round: No. 60
3rd round: No. 89
4th round: No. 129
7th round: No. 238
7th round: No. 240
Changing needs
Oct 19, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman (52) practices against the New Orleans Saints before the game at Soldier Field. Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
Dalman’s sudden departure pushes center significantly up the Bears’ offseason needs list. There are some options available in free agency ahead of the draft, but losing Dalman leaves a major long-term need in the middle of the offensive line. Left tackle Ozzy Trapilo is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season after tearing his patellar tendon in Chicago’s playoff victory over Green Bay in January.
Trading Moore doesn’t necessarily make wide receiver a bigger need. Chicago drafted Luther Burden in the second round, No. 39 overall, a year ago. In 2024, Chicago tabbed WR Rome Odunze with the No. 9 overall pick. Odunze and Burden already projected as the top two wide receivers in Chicago going forward.
The need at wide receiver comes in after the top twosome. Jahdae Walker, a 2025 undrafted free agent, is the only other WR under contract entering free agency. Walker caught six passes as a rookie.
Filling the holes on the offensive line, where top reserves Braxton Jones and Ryan Bates are also free agents, appears the higher priority for offensive-minded coach Ben Johnson. Chicago hit nicely on first-round tight end Colston Loveland in 2025. Loveland led the Bears in receptions (58) as a rookie, and veteran Cole Kmet is also a capable receiving option at tight end for Johnson’s offense.
Defensive holes remain
Of course, Chicago doesn’t have any safeties who played for the team in 2025 under contract. While Kevin Byard or Jonathan Owens could return in free agency, it’s a major hole at the back of the defense.
The Bears also need help on the defensive line, where Chicago is losing prominent depth players Andrew Billings (DT) and Dominique Robinson (DE) as free agents. Starting DT Grady Jarrett is 32, while top pass rusher Montez Sweat turns 30 in September and hasn’t produced the sack total commensurate with his sizable contract that runs through 2027. Reinforcements are needed, especially with both Dayo Odeyingbo and Shemar Turner coming off season-ending injuries.
The additional second-round pick does give Chicago more ammunition to fire away in any potential trade for Raiders EDGE Maxx Crosby, an oft-speculated rumor that would significantly alter Chicago’s offseason fate.
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