Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles characterized sending wide receiver DJ Moore and a fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a second-year selection in this year’s draft as one of “those business decisions.”
“DJ’s one of my favorite players, will always be one of my favorite players. I knew that that was going to be tough for our organization,” Poles told reporters on Thursday.
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It was also tough for his son, Mason.
“I’ve mentioned this before — my son is a passionate fan of the Chicago Bears. He was not very happy with me at all,” Poles said.
“I think it was cool that DJ sent him a video telling him not to be mad at dad [and that] it’s part of the business.”
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It’s easy to understand why Mason, and so many others, loved watching Moore in Chicago. He caught 20 total touchdowns in three seasons with the Bears, most notably hauling in game-winners to cap a pair of incredible comebacks against the rival Green Bay Packers this past season, the second of which helped deliver Chicago its first playoff victory since the 2010 season.
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Less than two years ago, the Bears inked Moore to a four-year extension reportedly worth $110 million. At the time, Moore was coming off the best season of his career. He reeled in a career-high eight touchdowns, and his 1,364 receiving yards were more than he logged in each of his three 1,000-yard campaigns with the Carolina Panthers.
Poles was asked Thursday about parting ways with Moore just two seasons later.
“There’s a financial piece of it, but you’re also looking at the room,” the 40-year-old GM said. “And when you have Rome Odunze and how talented he is — I know he went through some injuries last year. You look at what Luther did. Again, that’s why you follow the draft board. I did not expect Luther Burden to be where he was, and he showed up and showed some big-time flashes. Every time that dude touches the ball, special things can happen.”
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Poles then said, referencing Colston Loveland: “And then obviously our tight end is a special player as well. So, with that said, you have to look at different moves that are going to help you continue to build your football team, and that’s what we felt like was best.”
Poles noted that there were “quite a few teams” that were interested in Moore. Ultimately, the 2018 first-round pick ended up with the Buffalo Bills.
The soon-to-be 29-year-old Moore is reunited with now-Bills head coach Joe Brady, who was Moore’s OC at one point in Carolina. And he’ll be catching passes from 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen.
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“I’m probably a little bit different when it comes to trades,” Poles said. “There was an opportunity to put DJ in a really cool spot for him to have success. Unfortunately, we have to play him next year.
“But I think for his career, for that team, I think it’s a …” he added before joking, “I told one of my friends — I’m from Western New York — and I said, ‘My immediate family’s not very happy with me. My extended family is very happy with me.’ So, yeah, we wish him well.”