The lull is over. The NFL offseason is in full swing, and for Chicago Bears fans who are ready for the whispers and narratives to start, the 2026 NFL Combine has already given us plenty.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles spoke to a few different groups of people already this week in Indianapolis, and in a sit-down with ESPN's Waddle and Silvy, he was asked very directly about wide receiver DJ Moore.
We have already heard Poles refuse to shut down the Moore trade rumors on one occasion, so when he was asked if Moore will be on the 2026 roster, this answer only fueled the fire:
"It's hard to tell right now. We're trying to put all these pieces together. Obviously we have some cap constraints, we're over right now. We got to get under ... we have to listen to the league and the things that come out of this week.
"Is anyone interested in any other player that puts us in a position to reconfigure a little bit? So, it's difficult to say right now."
That isn't exactly a ringing endorsement.
It sure sounds like DJ Moore's future with the Chicago Bears is headed for a trade
The writing seems to have been on the wall for a while now, for those who have been following closely. Even early last season, with Rome Odunze flashing and before we saw the Luther Burden breakout, it seemed like an obvious move.
Moore was an integral part of last year's Bears team and gave us some unforgettable moments that will go down as some of the best in franchise history -- the Green Bay Packers will remember forever.
But with Odunze and Burden, the Bears have a solid pair of starters. That's not to mention, either, that Colston Loveland very well could be the no. 1 target in this offense in 2026. For the Bears to be able to shed Moore's salary and even snag a draft pick in return seems like an obvious choice.
On one hand, it will be tough to watch him go. When he first came to Chicago, he was something the Bears hadn't had for a while. A true number one receiver who could stretch the field and do so many things well, Moore was a revelation.
And, just like that, he seems expendable. This is, after all, a business. And Poles has to make the best decision for the entire roster.
For the Bears to potentially have assets to use towards their defensive line after a Moore trade, it's too good of an opportunity to pass up.
Read more: Ryan Poles just hinted at a QB trade that could change Bears' draft plans
And it sounds like a Moore trade is inevitable, so now we'll just keep an eye out for when the moment occurs.