The one question the Chicago Bears should ask about DJ Moore

One question the Chicago Bears may want to answer this offseason is whether or not they should extend wide receiver D.J. Moore. Moore still has two years left on his contract, but like anything, timing is very important. 

The Chicago Bears would be smart to offer D.J. Moore an extension in 2024

The Bears could let this year play out. However, Moore is arguably going to have the best quarterback in his career, even if Caleb Williams is a rookie. He could have an excellent year. That, plus the fact that Moore can now threaten to wait for free agency will start to give Moore the leverage. 

Beyond that, there is a host of talented wide receivers that are about to get paid, and most of this is going to happen this summer. Devonta Smith just signed an extension that has an Average Annual Value of $25M. That is a big uptick from Moore, who is making just $16M per year on the salary cap over the final years of his deal. 

It does not stop with Smith. Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, and Brandon Aiyuk are all expected to see new deals this offseason. Ja’Marr Chase and Jaylen Waddle are coming down the pipeline as well. 

Even if Moore does not see the salary that some of them do, it will impact him. Jefferson and Lamb will not just get big deals; they will set the market and increase the rate that any average receiver is expected to get. 

The Bears can try to get ahead of this. At this point, they have a bit of leverage because Moore is not going to have a big salary for the next two seasons, and he could get a short-term payday as well as longer-term security. If he did get hurt or have a bad year, he would not enter 2025 worrying about his next contract. 

Next year, the Bears will have to pay more and the expected salary will increase because of the new deals. The Bears have to at least explore the idea of offering D.J. Moore an extension.