The Chicago Bears once again control the NFL draft this year as they hold the first overall pick (thanks to the Carolina Panthers). While the expectation last year was that Chicago was going to trade it, there’s more uncertainty this season.
Bears wide receiver DJ Moore appeared on the St. Brown Brothers’ podcast with 33rd Team, where he revealed what he thinks Chicago will do with the top selection.
“I think we trade back, to be honest,” Moore said.
Equanimeous St. Brown, Moore’s teammate in Chicago, agreed.
“It worked out the first time,” he said.
St. Brown is, of course, referring to to the trade of the first overall pick last year, where the Bears acquired Moore (alongside picks that turned into right tackle Darnell Wright, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, the No. 1 pick this year and a 2025 second-rounder).
DJ Moore thinks the Bears will trade the number 1 overall pick again this year. pic.twitter.com/vssvHcbiDD
— Dave (@dave_bfr) January 10, 2024
It certainly seems that Moore’s opinion carries a lot of weight within the organization. During his exit interview with head coach Matt Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles, Moore took time to give his feedback about the offense, which he previously alluded to in his postgame presser with the media, calling out Luke Getsy’s playcalling. Getsy was fired on Wednesday.
That’s not to say that Moore is the reason Getsy was fired, but Eberflus and Poles value player input — especially from one of their best leaders in Moore — and use that in a big picture evaluation.
Another topic of discussion that came up during that exit interview? Fields.
There’s been no bigger supporter of Fields than Moore, who had a career year with 96 catches for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns and has been campaigning for his QB to return for weeks. Fields and Moore have been among the NFL’s most lethal duos — and Moore nearly eclipsed 1,400 yards even with Fields missing four games.
While it certainly feels like Chicago could use the first overall pick to draft a rookie quarterback, like Caleb Williams, Poles did admit that he was “open-minded” to trading the top selection for the a second consecutive season.
“What happened last year, I didn’t see … for it to turn out the way that it did,” Poles said of the massive haul, including Moore. “Again, I’ve got to stay open-minded.”