Long before the NFL Draft, the Bears traded their coveted No. 1 draft pick to acquire several picks from the Carolina Panthers.
They received No. 9, No. 61, a 2024 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick. Key to the trade, however, was their acquisition of wide receiver DJ Moore.
And security Jaquan Brisker agrees.
“I thought it was a great trade, especially for Justin and the offense, to get a weapon that makes us even more dangerous,” Brisker said on The Matt Lombardo Show. “Last year we were so close. Maybe three or seven points in some games, but adding another weapon there shows they’re invested in Justin Fields. They knew we needed another weapon and were moving in the right direction.
The Bears were reportedly adamant about acquiring Moore. The opportunity cost of acquiring Moore would have been a future first-round pick. However, Moore is a far more valuable commodity.
He’s a proven veteran wide receiver. He had three consecutive 1,000-plus receiving yards seasons from 2019-21 — with shoddy quarterback play. The Bears went with a reputable and established product, instead of a pick, they were given the option of picking someone as elite as Moore.
Moore will join a wide reception room with Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, Cole Kmet, newly signed Robert Tonyan and Equanimeous St. Brown. Moore, Fields, Claypool and Mooney met and attended a Chicago Bulls game earlier this week.
The Panthers wide receiver was just the start of the Bears’ offseason. They also signed Tremaine Edmunds, TJ Edwards, Nate Davis, D’Onta Foreman and others to their bolstered roster.
How will the Bears approach the rest of free agency and the NFL Draft?
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