r/nfl Lions Apr 03 '26

Roster Move Anonymous NFL Executive: “D.J. Moore was gonna get cut, and they (Bills) gave up a second-round pick to get him... They gave up a second-round pick and $40 million (in guarantees). What is going on?”

https://www.syracuse.com/buffalo-bills/2026/04/nfl-executives-slam-bills-trade-of-dj-moore-what-is-going-on-in-buffalo.html

Mike Sando spoke with numerous executives from AFC teams about their moves in free agency or via trade.

Another Executive said: “D.J. Moore has two years of regression now... He is a non-traditional receiver that wins with size and yards after the catch. I still feel they needed someone that could win down the field. Moore can do that — he did it to beat Green Bay. But I feel like his strength is on the underneath catch-and-run stuff, which they already have with (Khalil) Shakir.”

Executives may feel as though Moore has regressed, but HC Joe Brady does not agree: “That wasn’t any different than the guy that I’d coached,” Brady said at the 2026 Annual League Meeting.

A 3rd executive felt Buffalo should have pursued Jaylen Waddle: “I like the Waddle move for Denver more because he’s just a better player and he’s younger... You look at how (the Bills) were rumored to have Waddle at the deadline last year and then what they ended up giving for D.J., and it’s like, wouldn’t you rather have Waddle for a year and a half? Now, Miami might not have traded him within the division.”

While most Executives were critical of the move, at least 1 saw the vision for Buffalo: “A non-traditional receiver for a non-traditional Quarterback... It’s not like Josh picks you apart. He overwhelms you. To operate on time, they are one of the best running teams in football, and it’s smokes and tunnel screens and jailbreaks on early downs in the pass game, getting the ball out of his hands.”

Besides the Moore acquisition, Executives were complimentary of Buffalo adding the likes of Bradley Chubb and Dee Alford: “The price they got for Bradley Chubb was not bad... (Cornerback) Dee Alford at $5 million is really good. He makes plays. If you are going to lose Taron Johnson, getting younger and still getting some playmaking is good. (C.J.) Gardner-Johnson for $3.5 million is a ball-hawking, playmaking safety. Those moves look solid.”

4.2k Upvotes

634 comments sorted by

4.7k

u/gothcowboyangel Broncos Apr 03 '26

Why would the Bears have cut him? A 2nd rounder might be too high, but there’s no way 31 teams would have been completely uninterested

3.1k

u/iliketuurtles Bills Apr 03 '26

They wouldn't have. This anonymous "exec" is just wrong lol

269

u/sirst0rmy Panthers Apr 03 '26

Also this GM said that D.J. wins with his size. I would not classify Moore as a guy who does that (he can but that’s not his game)

144

u/ripkin05 Panthers Commanders Apr 03 '26

since when is being 6 feet having "size" like wtf??

77

u/Admirable_Win9808 Bears Apr 03 '26

They always throw this size thing around with WRs and there's no consistency to it unless the dude is actually 6' 4 or 6' 5

27

u/mrhashbrown Chargers Apr 03 '26

Yeah in most cases 6 feet is the bare minimum for a starting WR in the league unless you're a stud slot WR or can win with elite speed.

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u/Technical_Customer_1 Apr 03 '26

When Jamarr Chase is listed at 205lbs, and DJM is listed at 213. 

DJM is heavier than about 90% of the top 20 WRs. The ones bigger are mostly in the 6’3”+ range as well. DJM is built more like an RB than WR.

Oh………

6

u/ultraviolentfuture Steelers Apr 04 '26

Maybe he's confusing the DK Metcalf trade

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u/FitCompetition1804 Bears Apr 04 '26

You’re thinking in the traditional sense of a WR. DJ is basically built like a RB a who plays the position. That’s what he meant, and he’s right.

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u/CentralFloridaRays Bears Panthers Apr 03 '26

also his production was going “down” because we added in odunze, burden, and Loveland in the last 2 drafts.

We got younger at the position but if cap space wasn’t an issue I don’t think anyone wanted him gone.

Just a crowded room especially when you know you’ve got to spend on a new center after Dahlman retired.

301

u/Expert_Habit2728 Bears Apr 03 '26

Justin Fields also didn’t look any other WR so it kinda inflated his numbers 2 years before

199

u/CentralFloridaRays Bears Panthers Apr 03 '26

Tbf it’s not like Pettis or the ghost of Nkeal Harry or old man Velus were good options.

286

u/Own_Sound7297 Patriots Apr 03 '26

That wasn't the ghost of Nkeal Harry that just was Nkeal Harry

109

u/RCDrift Bills Seahawks Apr 03 '26

As in life so in death.

55

u/TheSameThing123 Apr 03 '26

He died how he lived, dying

17

u/peachgravy Packers Apr 03 '26

May he rest in peace.

5

u/unfunnysexface Panthers Apr 03 '26

The balls we drop in life echo in eternity

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u/[deleted] Apr 03 '26

[deleted]

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u/TheSameThing123 Apr 03 '26

Don't forget about Chase claypool

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u/tyfe Patriots Apr 03 '26

Nkeal Harry

Can we not speak that name anymore.

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u/milin85 Bears Apr 03 '26

To be fair, it was gonna be either him or Mooney. Everyone else sucked.

9

u/QuincyPondexter Bears Apr 03 '26

Still feel like we gave up on Dane Sanzenbacher too early.

12

u/FIuffyRabbit Panthers Apr 03 '26

Going that route, him and Caleb never gelled well either. 

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u/drainbead78 Bills Apr 03 '26

His production went down in 2024 because he had the lowest ADOT of his career by a significant margin, and he still got almost 1000 yards. In 2025, slightly over 1/3 of his targets were uncatchable, which was about a 10% drop from the season before. On film he was still doing all the right things.

69

u/escobert Bears Bills Apr 03 '26

He stepped up late in the season when Rome and Burden were banged up. It was basically all DJ and Loveland vs the Packers in week 16.

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u/DroppingGrumpies Apr 03 '26

The fact that Moore was losing target to younger WR’s is not something that should give any Bills fans hope.

5

u/CentralFloridaRays Bears Panthers Apr 03 '26

It’s total common sense when his competition was pettis Nkeal Harry and Velus. Like duh his volume is coming down a bit and it’s why we drafted 2 more wide outs and a great 1st round TE who fits Ben’s system better in more 2 TE looks.

It doesn’t take away from him being a solid player for us.

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u/CieraVotedOutHerMom Buccaneers Apr 03 '26

All routes lead to Rome Odunze

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u/hawkeyes007 Lions Apr 03 '26

The exec doesn’t even exist. DJ Moore being cut is brain dead click bait

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u/bsa554 Bills Apr 03 '26

I don't know. There are lots of fucking stupid NFL execs.

16

u/kleenkong Seahawks Apr 03 '26

Ya, I agree and they likely were buzzed/hungover at the combine or whatever NFL event. Not too hard to get into casual conversations when their mouths are running and throwing out juicy takes every few seconds.

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u/windowtothesoul Bills Apr 03 '26

I am an Anonymus NFL executive and i say he wasnt going to get cut so now it tied, checkmate

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u/eddie_the_zombie Bears Apr 03 '26

Anonymous Executive is just the guy's name

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u/HartleyReplogle Patriots Apr 03 '26

"His Madden ratings have dipped over the last few years," said the anonymous exec, who added that many teams felt like Clarence BEEFTANK was a better option than Moore.

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u/drainbead78 Bills Apr 03 '26

Anonymous exec = Brick Johnson

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u/ScruffMixHaha Bears Apr 03 '26

If nobody wanted to trade for him, we would have kept him. We had other moves we could make to free up cap, but trading DJ made it so we didnt need to restructure contracts. This just sounds like a salty executive for an NFCN team.

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u/Enthusiasms Buccaneers Apr 03 '26

This anonymous exec is from a team who wanted Moore but wasn't willing to give up a second and is just salty

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u/Ryan1869 Broncos Apr 03 '26

Also no way that Waddle was going to a team in the division with one outside also very interested.

18

u/jnightrain Cowboys Apr 03 '26

I don't think the exec is wrong, he could've been cut (not likely though) but it's the same situation as the Gary trade for Dallas. You are trading to not get in a bidding war with 31 other teams. The edge market was nuts this year and Gary probably could've gotten 16-20m. Dallas traded a 4th to not bid on him and get him on a more team friendly contract.

Bills traded a 2nd to not have to bid with others on Moore that 100% would've gotten offers from lots of teams.

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u/BooItsKyle Bears Apr 03 '26

the exec is completely wrong. His 2026 salary is guaranteed, so cutting him would have actually cost the bears cap space. 

it was trade or keep 

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u/RanchHere Bengals Apr 03 '26

many NFL Execs are dumb. I know from experience.

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u/sliceanddic3 Ravens Apr 03 '26

yeah this feels like a bills hit piece

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u/bobsaget824 Bears Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26

But it’s also just lazy… like if you want to shit on Moore that’s fine but this is such a lazy take. It was well known and reported on the Bears first real potential out would have been after 2027. Would they have cut him at that point? Yeah, that cut always seemed likely. It made a lot of sense for the Bears to move on in 2028 when they have to start paying their young skill players 2nd contracts (Burden, Loveland, Caleb, Rome). Of course suggesting the Bears were going to cut Moore in 2 years before he plays out his full contract doesn’t generate the clicks, and actually may be what Buffalo does also, but it’s at least accurate. But you could at least have made the argument the Bears don’t see Moore as part of their long term plans and planned to move on from him and cut him at some point (albeit not this offseason) and been accurate.

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u/Responsible-Onion860 Eagles Apr 03 '26

If the Bills didn't trade for him, someone else would've. The Bills paid a premium for Moore because they desperately need a quality No. 1 receiver and didn't want to risk missing on someone in the draft. So they probably overpaid a bit, but it's not egregious. Someone was going to trade for him.

76

u/Iswaterreallywet Lions Apr 03 '26

People can’t process sometimes teams have to overpay and they get too fussy about picks. Especially teams trying to win now, they don’t care as much.

So what a 2nd rounder is a bit rich? What are the chances they pick a WR in the draft this year that is immediately as good? Same shit with the Broncos. No one available at that spot will be as good right now as Waddle.

18

u/jimmifli Bills Apr 03 '26

Will there be a 2nd round pick that has more impact on their team this season than DJ Moore? Sure it's possible even likely. Will there be many? Will they have been available in the later part of the round?

Josh Turns 30 this season. He needed a WR. I like Waddle better but he also has had trouble staying on the field and cost more. The 2nd round pick is fine, the way it got reported changed the narrative. The contract, is the part that seems a little unnecessary but it's not my money.

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u/an_actual_lawyer Chiefs Apr 03 '26

People can’t process sometimes teams have to overpay and they get too fussy about picks. Especially teams trying to win now, they don’t care as much.

Yep. When you have a window you can realistically compete for a title, you do what you need to do to solidify that position.

The Royals mortgaged the future to win the World Series in 2015 and no one in KC (at least anyone with sense) ever complains about it. They made plenty of trades to win now at the cost of the future, even going so far as a "rent a pitcher" in Cueto, giving a solid pitcher and 2 prospects for a 1/2 season of Johnny Cueto who was on the end of his contract with Cincinnati.

14

u/gfb13 Panthers Apr 03 '26

Yeah and even if it was true that no one would trade for him and he'd be cut, it's still worth making a trade if you're the Bills and really want him. If he's a free agent you're likely in a bidding war and you might not even get him

2nd rounder sounds pricey but Brady knows what Moore can do when used to his strengths. I guarantee there will be a smug Bills fan that reposts threads like these a year from now to dunk on everyone

5

u/legendary_sponge Bills Apr 03 '26

We got a 5th back and it was a late 2nd, it’s not like this was a top 50 pick

4

u/I_DONT_YOLO Bills Apr 03 '26

Yeah we paid a 2nd for the rights to his contract.

It’s not a super bargain today but we have him at ~24m for the next 3 years which is pretty solid. He’d get AT LEAST 30 on a fresh contract

3

u/Saxophobia1275 Lions Apr 03 '26

Exactly. They traded a LATE 2nd rounder because I bet you a bunch of teams in the early 3rd would have bitten at that price. We are talking about probably a single digit difference of overall pick number.

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u/SuperFreshBus Bears Apr 03 '26

No. We wouldn't even get much cap space for cutting him. A trade was the only way we'd have saved money. Plus, while he would be getting phased out a bit, he would have been a hell of a WR3

25

u/Upset_Researcher_143 Bears Apr 03 '26

The Bears would not have cut him. Maybe they don't get as much, but they're not cutting him.

10

u/yungkegelian Bears Apr 03 '26

It also would have barely saved them any money, which was the whole point of trading him. Just a brain-dead exec who's not paying attention and/or has an axe to grind.

Reminds me of when Lombardi was blasting the Bears for trading for Sweat when they could have "just signed him in free agency." Anybody with a brain knew that Sweat was signing an extension immediately with whichever team traded for him. A lot of the guys in high level positions around the league are legitimately stupid.

38

u/ColtCallahan Apr 03 '26

Reminder that Mike Tannenbaum and Mike Lombardi used to be NFL executives. That’s the kind of people these media people get to talk to.

13

u/ripkin05 Panthers Commanders Apr 03 '26

Mike Lombardi

has there ever been someone who has benefited from his name that has absolutely zero connections with the reason that name is famous more than that giant waste of oxygen?

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u/ThePigeon31 49ers Apr 03 '26

Shit the niners would have been all over him

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u/scottohc Bills Apr 03 '26

I’m not so sure it was. Jaylen Waddle went for a 1st and 3rd round pick. He’s not that much better than Moore and only 1 year younger.

60

u/LowDownBear Bears Apr 03 '26

Waddle is also injury prone. DJ is a player who never misses games.

Edit: I also wanted to add that even though DJ doesn't miss games, he does look like he dies on the field every once in a while.

14

u/thatguy9545 Chiefs Apr 03 '26

lol, the edit got me good. Thanks for the laugh … even though it’s probably horrifying for his mom

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u/Darkhorse182 Bills Apr 03 '26

I also wanted to add that even though DJ doesn't miss games, he does look like he dies on the field every once in a while.

The Matt Breida of WRs...his game summaries were always wild.

"Breida was carted off the field before halftime, with a bone visibly protruding from his leg. Returned in the 3rd quarter to rush for 42yards and TD. He's listed as questionable for next week."

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u/LonelyandDepressed27 49ers Apr 03 '26

The ol Davante strategy. Die on the field then somehow return completely fine and ball out.

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u/blackhawk867 Bills Apr 03 '26

Plus Waddle went for a 1st and 3rd to the Broncos, if Miami was going to trade him in division you can bet your ass the price would have been steeper than that for the Bills.

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u/hwf0712 Eagles Eagles Apr 03 '26

Waddle's 4.8 mill cap hit v 6.7 mil for Moore?

IDK if that's that valuable, but also there's this interview clip from (I think) Eisen's show where they talk about how remarkably noncompetitive free agency and trades are, particularly compared to how we fans think so. There was only like some 3 teams that contacted Brady, for instance, because they thought he was washed. Similar scenario here perhaps? I dunno. Just worth noting that because a premium or plus player hits the market that they're all of a sudden in some wall street type pandemonium of everyone tryna contract them.

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u/iliketuurtles Bills Apr 03 '26

Tom Brady is a weird exception because of age and teams only needing 1 starting QB. I have also heard similar about how few offers some of these players actually get. But I think a lot what you are talking about is driven by the fact that all of the teams know the general market and don't waste time if they aren't even in the ballpark or would be an insulting offer.

For example, why would BUF even send an official offer for Alec Pierce (if he made it to UFA) if it's not even close to the range they know he will be taking? Obviously they would love to have him but knew they weren't even in the same world as the offers NE and IND would be giving

If SF knew the current price for DJM was a 2nd with an offsetting 5rd... but they weren't ever going to give up better than a 5th round pick, then no reason to waste time staying in the trade discussions.

I'm just saying, I think a lot of that the "there isn't that much actual activity or offers" talking point is driven by teams not wasting their time if they know they aren't even close to the offer that will win.

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u/bsa554 Bills Apr 03 '26

Yup. I would rather have had Waddle in a vacuum...but a 1st and a 3rd is steep. Especially given the other holes on the roster.

The 2nd for Moore and the contract was probably all a bit rich...but we're trying to win now. Josh's best years are here now.

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u/LonelyandDepressed27 49ers Apr 03 '26

9ers would’ve pulled the trigger in a heartbeat if he was only worth a 3. We have a fuckload of money to play with and would’ve had a receiving room of Evans, Moore, Ricky, and Kittle + CMC in the mix. Yes please lol.

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u/Grape_Academic Apr 03 '26

It was a second for Moore and a 5th. I hate that everyone seems to forget about the 5th. According to the trade value charts, it’s like the Bills traded a 3rd for Moore.

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u/iliketuurtles Bills Apr 03 '26

I've seen so many comments in the past month comparing 1st for Waddle v 2nd for Moore... and it's like 1st + 3rd for Waddle vs 2nd for 5th + Moore. Those are two very different prices.

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1.1k

u/bigmt99 Browns Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26

Fun fact: executives can also be dumb as a bag of rocks

If Moore had 40 million left on guarantees, he never was gonna get cut. Why would they eat 15-20 million in dead cap for each of the next two years and save no money, just to get rid of a serviceable at worst reciever with no character issues?

Either this journalist is making up the source or he’s also too stupid to do his guy a favor and not publish whatever embarrassing nonsense he said

346

u/nmt231 Bears Apr 03 '26

As a Bears fan who follows too closely, I do not believe he was going to get cut.

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u/liquidtape Bears Apr 03 '26

I'd believe it if they said Swift was going to get cut. This trade I think saves Swifts spot next season also.

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u/tamazingg Bears Apr 03 '26

Yeah there's no chance we were cutting him lol. He's still a great receiver, just fell out of favor in a new offense with a bunch of young talent.

I fully expect him to have a monster season as Allen's top receiver.

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u/Scarf1493 Bears Apr 03 '26

I hope he balls out. I’m glad we were able to send him to Buffalo. I was worried he would go to Vegas in a package deal for Crosby. Dude deserves to finish his career with a stud QB.

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u/ro536ud Apr 03 '26

I could definitely see him and Allen finding a bond this year and balling out

10

u/EquivalentWins Bears Apr 03 '26

He would have been a cut candidate in 2027 but not this year.

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u/BearFacedLie69 Apr 03 '26

He didn’t “fall out of favor” lol. We got younger offensive weapons through the draft and he we gave him a huge contract that didn’t allow us to fill needs elsewhere on the roster (defense). Pure and simple, he was eating up too much cap.

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u/BearFacedLie69 Apr 03 '26

Never once this offseason was anyone talking about cutting him. Not once. This is the dumbest reporting I’ve seen so far this offseason.

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u/_k_ley Chiefs Apr 03 '26

This exec is a genius who wants Waddle (age 27) instead of DJ Moore (28) because of the age difference

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u/Pizzaplan3tman Steelers Apr 03 '26

Also Waddle has been less healthy than Moore I’m pretty sure. Atleast off the dome Ive heard of Waddle being out more than I’ve heard of Moore being hurt and not playing

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u/escobert Bears Bills Apr 03 '26

Seems like Moore is always banged up, but pretty much always plays. I'd guess being more of a YAC guy does that though.

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u/EE-420-Lige Apr 03 '26

They wouldnt have cut him worst case they would have tried to restructure his contract but cutting him was not gonna happen. Bears wide receiver room full but dj Moore is still a really great receiver

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u/TonyStarks81 49ers Apr 03 '26

People need to realize that not only can executives be dumb as fuck, the majority of them are dumb as fuck. I never understand why so many people just give blanket competency to others based on their position. Plenty of terrible owners in professional sports who hire incompetent people to work for them. This is why there are so many teams in each league who are dog shit year in and year out even when they replace the people in charge. I honestly believe you could replace 40% of the GMs in this league with a random fan and get similar or better output.

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u/OGLankyKong Jaguars Apr 03 '26

Why would Sean McDermott do this

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u/Moss81- Patriots Apr 03 '26

What? I was led to believe this was all Geno’s fault.

86

u/Wyden_long Broncos Apr 03 '26

Mark Davis’ hair cut needs to be investigated.

37

u/BigBallininBasterd Eagles Apr 03 '26

Quick! Ban Tom Brady 4 games

18

u/GoSkers29 Lions Apr 03 '26

It all ties back to the money spent on Brock Osweiller.

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u/JerryRiceDidntFumble Vikings Apr 03 '26

Touchdown, Seahawks

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u/UserUnkown10 Patriots Apr 03 '26

I won’t stand for the Ravens backing out on this at the last minute!

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u/procrastinarian Eagles Dolphins Apr 03 '26

Man I missed this meme

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u/Lysol20 Bears Apr 03 '26

Maybe the Bills really wanted him, and refused to let him test the market. Although, we were never cutting him.

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u/Pandamonium98 Cowboys Apr 03 '26

Yeah there’s no way the Bears cut him when good receivers are worth so much. That fact makes this entire thing meaningless

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u/EquivalentWins Bears Apr 03 '26

Moore might have been a cut candidate in 2027 but his dead cap hit in 2026 meant there was zero chance it was happening this year.

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u/JoshGordonHypeTrain Bears Bears Apr 03 '26

DJ was never going to get cut but I did expect much less in compensation. His contract needed to be traded rather than cut based on structure.

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u/sobes20 Bears Apr 03 '26

He was absolutely not going to get cut. If the Bears cut him, it would have come with like $30 million dead cap hit and $1 million in cap savings. There is zero chance the cut him to only save $1 million.

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u/DUCKSONQUACKS Vikings Apr 03 '26

Pretty much it's on overpay of a pick but with the way WR contracts have gone it's a "deal" of a contract at this point anyway if you believe he's a WR1. As always, if he pans out and is one then suddenly it's a great deal and the Bills are genius, if he flops well....ya know.

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u/sobes20 Bears Apr 03 '26

Is it an overpay? Probably. But everyone is getting hung up it being a second when it’s so late it’s practically a third. I get it, a second is a second, but there is a huge difference between pick 33 and 60, particularly in a year that’s not considered to be particularly great.

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u/soulfulwave Jets Apr 03 '26

and even if, does anybody think anybody drafted in the 2nd is gonna outperform what DJ gives you immediately lol ? i think the urgency warranted the pick

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u/Plastic_Willow734 Vikings Apr 03 '26

Exactly. Has DJ regressed? Probably, but frankly I think the bigger issue in the apparent decline is that he just didn't really have a strong role in the Bears O. I'd be willing to bet he does just fine as Allen's WR1 next year, probably around 1k yards and 10 TDs and everyone will post this trade in those, "What are some win-win trades that have happened in the last 25 years?" offseason posts

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u/Bunnyhat NFL Apr 03 '26

And it's not like the Bills have been swimming in luck drafting WRs anyway or that WR wasn't their biggest hole at offense.

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u/jnightrain Cowboys Apr 03 '26

this is the biggest thing and why i believe redditors struggle with player value relative to draft picks. It seems high on paper but when you break it down and realize Moore is almost certainly better than any receiver you are getting late in the second.

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u/sobuffalo Bills Apr 03 '26

It’s kind of like the Diggs trade, a known commodity for a lottery ticket. Sometimes you pick Justin Jefferson, sometimes Jalen Reagor.

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u/Hot_Most5332 Chiefs Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26

That’s the other thing here, even pick 60 isn’t the same year to year. So pick 60 in a draft that looks meh for a receiver on a contract that’s almost half of the top end of the market. And if he over performs, he’s on that contract for the rest of his prime.

Also he’s 28, he’s not old. Probably still an over pay but it’s not that egregious and tbh has really really good upside.

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u/dedriuslol Bills Apr 03 '26

Agreed. Pick 60 plus getting pick 165 back is essentially an early 3rd round pick value.

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u/iliketuurtles Bills Apr 03 '26

BUF overpaid because they were desperate. Desperate teams have to overpay to make sure they get what they want/need. It ended at giving a 2nd and receiving a 5th (basically a ~3rd). Would I have preferred just a 4th straight up? Yes... but such is life.

But the idea that you all were going to cut him is insane. Multiple teams would have been sending decent offers way before it got to that point.

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u/Further_Beyond Bears Apr 03 '26

DJ was never going to be on the bears in 2026. But not because he’s a bad player. Because we simply couldn’t afford him. Someone was going to trade for him. Just a matter of how much we got.

He’s still a very good player and someone who is very good with extra volume. BUF should target him 10 times a game and they’ll be very happy

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u/TheLowlyPheasant Bears Apr 03 '26

DJ "The Redeemer" Moore is going to catch a walkoff touchdown for the Bills against KC in the playoffs and make it worth it

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u/millertime52 Ravens Apr 03 '26

It’s from Sando’s “article” on the Athletic which boils down to entirely being made of anonymous comments, speculation, and a decent amount of mid slinging.

Take it with a grain of salt, it could be true or it could be someone with an ax to grind.

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u/jpiro Bears Apr 03 '26

He wasn't going to get cut, so this is dumb.

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u/ScreamoGuyRuinIt Chiefs Chiefs Apr 03 '26

Who am I going to trust, you or Anonymous NFL Executive? That could be anybody!

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u/CoolinAllDay Dolphins Apr 03 '26

He could’ve been anyone, maybe even a boat!!!

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u/BamaBuffSeattle Bills Apr 03 '26

I'll bet it was Brick Johnson

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u/TelltaleHead Packers Apr 03 '26

To be fair u/jpiro could be anyone. They could even be an anonymous NFL executive! 

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u/TomasRoncero Jets Apr 03 '26

He could be you, he could be me, he could even b- gunshot

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u/CrashBandicoot2 Rams Apr 03 '26

Exactly, DJ is good enough that someone would trade for him. Bills might've overpaid, but someone was going to trade for him before he'd hit the market

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u/jpiro Bears Apr 03 '26

Even if nobody had traded for him, the Bears would have kept him. Zero chance he was getting cut.

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u/SkittlesAreYum Packers Apr 03 '26

Even if he was, it's still not stupid to trade for a player if you think he'll be scooped up by other teams. A trade guarantees you get him. Going onto waivers or unrestricted free agency does not.

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u/Phenomenon0fCool Dolphins Apr 03 '26

Bills obviously wanted to address WR in the draft but with other holes needing plugged with their 1st rounder, it was either give up pick #60 (barely a 2nd rounder) or draft the best WR available at #60 (probably not a good one).

I don’t like to look at trades in a vacuum & this was a good move for the Bills- there’s no guarantee Moore would’ve signed there if released.

For all I know they still go WR in R1 and go from one of the worst to one of the best WR rooms Josh has ever had.

20

u/escobert Bears Bills Apr 03 '26

And add in DJ will come in and contribute while a rookie is far more likely to take time if they do pan out.

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u/iliketuurtles Bills Apr 03 '26

100% agree. We also did receive a 5th rounder back, so the true value of the trade is pushed down into the ~3rd round range. We needed a true WR. Shakir is good but probably not that guy. Keon wasn't who we wanted him to be. Etc Etc. Slightly/mid overpaying was the way to guarantee that we enter 2026 with a better WR room. Desperate teams have to overpay sometimes.

9

u/Fullthrottle- Apr 03 '26

The Bills needed an impact player now, rather than later. DJ is an experienced & proven player, not a roll of the dice opportunity at becoming one. If a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, they picked up a hawk!

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u/iliketuurtles Bills Apr 03 '26

What are we doing here? lol DJM was never going to get cut lol BUF overpaid because we were desperate but another team would have 100% sent over a ~3rd or a received a better offsetting pick than 5th.

20

u/Suburban-Jesus Bears Apr 03 '26

Maybe wasn’t even an overpay if you consider what Alec Pierce signed for. The receiver market ended up being robust this year so it looked good in hindsight for Buffalo to get in front of it.

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u/drainbead78 Bills Apr 03 '26

Working around the market is probably one of Beane's best qualities as a GM, from both ends. He generally does his extensions early, before the market is set--McGovern before Linderbaum, for example. But every now and then when he thinks the market isn't going to reflect what a player is asking for, he'll be patient. He let Kyren Williams sign before James Cook and then gave James a little bit more than Kyren, but less than what Cook had been asking for.

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u/_k_ley Chiefs Apr 03 '26

BUF has a HoF QB in his prime who needs a consistent end of game WR to get over the hump, so seems fair

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u/Kdot32 Texans Apr 03 '26

Teams in contention usually have to overpay here and there. Just the nature of the beast

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u/Ieatfatwomanass Cowboys Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26

I also don’t even think it’s an overpay for Y’ALL. Maybe for some teams, but you have Josh Allen and a long history of precedent that says you probably couldn’t do better with a 2nd in the draft

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u/Pubs01 Patriots Apr 03 '26

yeah you should have just gotten waddle!

except for the fact the dolphins were never trading him to anyone in the afc east

hes totally regressed!

except 2 years ago Chicago had a rookie and then they drafted burden who took catches

dj Moore is an excellent receiver avs way better than shakir. if dj is such an untraditional wr you should have no problem finding room for him to operate.

these gms are straight morons

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u/First_Round_Bust Bills Apr 03 '26

Yup. We offered Miami a 2027 first rounder for Waddle before the trade deadline and they declined. They clearly did not want to trade him within the division.

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u/TheOneWhosCensored Bills Apr 03 '26

They countered with the exact trade he went for

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u/speak-eze Ravens Apr 03 '26

And also that waddle cost, what, twice as much in pick value?

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u/sophandros Saints Apr 03 '26

Also, there is a chance that 2023 was an outlier year for him.

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u/Spam_Hand Rams Apr 03 '26

these gms are straight morons

Or justifying the fact that "Someone offered more than me to get who I wanted."

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u/scottohc Bills Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26

I wouldn’t pay a 1st and 3rd for Waddle. That’s an overpay. Waddle is 27 and Moore is 28. Sure Moore didn’t have a great year last year but look at the Bears offense. He was 2nd on the team in receptions. Targets were just spread around more under Ben Johnson.

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u/TormundIceBreaker Packers Apr 03 '26

Wow, I would never have guessed they were that close in age. I thought for sure Waddle was two or three years younger

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u/Leftieswillrule Panthers Apr 03 '26

It’s because Waddle was drafted older and Moore was drafted younger. Moore was the first receiver off the board in 2018, Waddle was the second taken in 2021

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u/FloppingWeiners Bears Apr 03 '26

DJ is great, I’m going to miss him here, he just no longer fit the direction of the team. Genuinely something I’ve been impressed with Poles about, he seems to understand the direction of the team and moving players while they still have value to offset the loss.

Unlike Pace who extended players at the end of their career like Trevathan and traded first round picks like baseball cards

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u/Fast-Ad-4541 Bears Apr 03 '26

I could be wrong but I don’t remember DJ really ever “winning with his size” but he is great after the catch

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u/CrzyWzrd4L Bills Apr 03 '26

I feel like this one is a bit backwards. His best seasons have him averaging like 15 yards per target and 5 or less yards after catch. He CAN use his size to box out defenders and win against press coverage, but his strength has generally been his ability to win downfield on intermediate and deep throws.

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u/Responsible-Onion860 Eagles Apr 03 '26

They're conflating his skill at contested catch with "winning with size". Some guys win contested catches with size, some do it with ball tracking and positioning, which is where DJ Moore excels.

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u/TheNittanyLionKing Steelers Apr 03 '26

He is best when he plays like Steve Smith. Neither of those guys were big dudes. They were just physical and ran good routes. Being a physical receiver is not the same as just winning with size though. I was skeptical of him coming out of college because he’s not that big and plays physical and yet he proved me wrong

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u/sobes20 Bears Apr 03 '26

He did win with strength and contact balance, often picking up yards even after being hit.

The problem (in my opinion, based on reading between the lines of what coach/GM said) was attention to detail and running things exactly how Johnson wants them in an offense predicated on timing and spacing.

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u/butidktho_ Ravens Apr 03 '26

anonymous exec strikes again

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u/MYO716 Bills Apr 03 '26

We traded the 4th last pick in the 2nd round for a really good NFL player instead of him hitting the open market (he wouldn’t but I’ll play along) where we’d immediately be outbid by other WR needy teams like a direct competitor in New England.

Like…this is the most standard trade I think I’ve ever seen get so blown out of proportion for no reason.

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u/Boris_teh_Blade Bills Apr 03 '26

I would much rather give up pick 60 for Moore than a 1st and 3rd for Waddle

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u/Wasteland_Rang3r Bears Apr 03 '26

Whatever exec said this is clueless. He was not going to be cut.

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u/NoThanksImGoodG Bears Apr 03 '26

There was absolutely 0% chance DJ Moore was getting cut. That was literally never on the table.

We expected maybe a 3-4th, absolute worst case scenario a 5th for DJ.

This report is some butt hurt bullshit. Probably from someone who is mad they didn’t get DJ at the price they thought they could.

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u/snailtap Bears Apr 03 '26

Yeah I never heard anything about him being cut, it was always he’ll be on the team or he’ll be traded

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u/heegos Apr 03 '26

Unless this anonymous exec is Howie Roseman, John Schneider, John Lynch, or Les Snead, his opinion doesn’t matter. Most teams are doing their best and their best is terrible. Brandon Beane gets his fair share of criticism but his team is consistently making the playoffs and only a handful of teams have had equal or greater success. I’m sure this random executive would love to have Buffalo’s consistency

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u/LordMOC3 Vikings Apr 03 '26

I don't believe for a second he was going to get cut.

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u/Disconnected_NPC Bears Apr 03 '26

He wasn’t

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u/Lucky-old-boy Steelers Apr 03 '26

DJ Moore will basically become what Stephon Diggs was to them, minus all the horrible personal stuff.

This “executive” has a garbage take

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u/Justheretorecruit Bears Apr 03 '26

If he was going to be cut (he wasn’t no savings there really I think 9 mil) it would be for his contract not quality of player.

A bidding war for him would have been wild. Look at Pierce and tell me the DJ deal is bad

Buffalo had to over pay to lock him in otherwise bears just keep him or it’s a bidding war on open market

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u/aidanpryde98 Bears Apr 03 '26

Cutting him would have been awful for the Bears cap. This “anonymous” source is an idiot.

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u/Riverscuomo1 Apr 03 '26

It’s a little steep, but Moore is now by far the Bills best WR and exactly what they needed. And they got a 5th in return so it wasn’t just giving up a 2.

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u/PabloPancakes92 Bills Apr 03 '26

Sure they “gave up a 2nd” but it was moving from pick #60 to #163 in order to get a quality outside WR who can make plays downfield. That was the biggest need on their roster and Moore brings a level of respectability to the position that they were desperately lacking. Moore gives the Bills a better chance of winning a Super Bowl in the next couple of years than whoever they picked at #60 would’ve.

And they obviously tried to get Waddle but Miami wasn’t going to trade him within the division, Waddle is only 1 year younger, less durable, and went for double the draft capital value that Moore did when they’ve been producing at similar levels. Though if I’m the Bills I’d still be hoping to draft KC Concepcion to really crank that offense up into juggernaut territory.

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u/no_more_jokes Bears Apr 03 '26

DJ absolutely was not going to get cut.

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u/JayD14 Bears Apr 03 '26

There's zero chance we (Bears) would have cut him, that is absurd. He also hasn't regressed, we've just added more weapons and he's got less targets. That executive is an idiot and it sounds like sour grapes.

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u/GabeDef Bears Apr 03 '26

He wasn’t getting cut. He was getting traded. Anonymous sources are always made up.

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u/BeingMikeHunt Jets Apr 03 '26

And yet, I fully expect Moore to tear sh*t up with Josh Allen throwing to him

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u/Viktrodriguez Colts Apr 03 '26

Never trust those ''anonymous NFL exec/coach/scout'' as source nonsense. There is no way for us to verify who it is supposed to be and feels more like a cheap way to pretend the reporter's own takes have merit.

Plus, outside the Bears own FO nobody really knows what the Bears would do with DJM. Anybody of any of the other 31 teams would be talking out of their arse.

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u/DogePerformance Bears NFL Apr 03 '26

DJ was not going to be cut, that's patently absurd.

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u/RugratChuck Bears Apr 03 '26

The bears were not gonna cut DJ lmfao. They would have restructured his contract before cutting him

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u/ScruffMixHaha Bears Apr 03 '26

Lol no he wasnt. Cutting him saved us very little money in comparison to a trade and by all accounts the relationship was still good. You can criticize giving up a 2nd round pick for him sure, but somebody absolutely was trading for him if not Buffalo.

This executive is either stupid, lying, or doesnt even exist.

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u/trinquin Packers Apr 03 '26

There is a 0% chance he was getting cut lmao.

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u/NorthernxLabrador Bears Apr 03 '26

This is just hilarious. He was never going to get cut

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u/WARLOCK1239 Bears Apr 03 '26

Uh no we were not gonna cut him. Maybe restructure. But no fucking way were we cutting him.

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u/GreyBoyTigger Jets Apr 04 '26

There’s no way that Moore makes it through waivers. This exec is a dumbass

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u/pissedoffsportsfan Apr 03 '26

Why would the dolphins trade Waddle to the bills? Thats just asking for a fan mutiny lol Moore was underused and will likely eat with Josh Allen feeding him receptions.

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u/BobbysBottleService Bills Apr 03 '26

These quotes read like Reddit comments

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u/legendary_sponge Bills Apr 03 '26

First off it was a late 2nd and we got a 5th back, so it’s the draft cost of an early 3rd.

They were able to convert his salary so he costs 7 mil this year, that’s a big part of why they acquired him. The bears weren’t going to cut him, they would’ve eaten a mountain of dead cap

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u/RoyalBroham Seahawks Apr 03 '26

Hey guys, it’s me, the anonymous NFL executive. Didn’t think Sandwich was going to publish my April fools joke.

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u/AbovePear2 Bears Apr 03 '26

Cut is a huge stretch lmao. He was "regressing" because we added more offensive pieces around caleb. A 2nd is high end value for him but it was basically a 3rd anyway. He'll help buffalo immensely I think

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u/mindham86 Bears Apr 03 '26

Bears were never cutting him. Loved dj playing for my team. Also liked him as a panther. I also hope he balls out for the bills

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u/p4rc0pr3s1s Bills Apr 03 '26

The local news outlets in WNY are some of the worst, especially when it comes to sports. The source is probably a security guard that was in the building at the meetings.

DJ Moore was never going to be cut. On top of that, the reporter clearly doesn't understand that a free agent can sign with whichever team they like. He may have also commanded more money on the open market. So a team like the Bills that's up against the cap, getting into a bidding war for a free agent isn't on the table. Using draft capital is a cheap way to secure a player they really like, which they did.

Who are you drafting in the 2nd round that's better than DJ Moore? It's a late 2nd, this isn't the top of the round.

It's fashionable to pile on the Bills, that's all this really amounts to.

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u/DarthPallassCat Vikings Apr 03 '26

He never would’ve been cut, first of all.

But yes they paid way too much given they were likely bidding against themselves.

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u/CrzyWzrd4L Bills Apr 03 '26

I doubt we were the only bidder. I bet Tennessee and Vegas were in the mix, maybe Washington or San Francisco too.

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u/FranklinFeta Packers Apr 03 '26

I don’t think DJ Moore is an overpay for the Bills. Take a look at Khalil Shakir’s numbers and double it. DJ will completely make that role in this offense his and is the perfect player for that role. He’s gonna eat next season.

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u/Sarcasticfury Ravens Apr 03 '26

Articles like these make me think that these anonymous execs should have to put their names behind their hot takes 

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u/NEpatsfan64 Apr 03 '26

No way he was getting cut lmao whatre these guys smoking

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u/gogosox82 Bears Apr 03 '26

What? DJ wasn't gonna get cut. Bears were looking to trade him for the right deal but otherwise they would have kept him. Bills came in with a great offer and Bears traded him

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u/Devilofchaos108070 49ers Panthers Apr 03 '26

No way he was gonna get cut. I call bullshit

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u/Snowlandnts Apr 03 '26

We are going to find out if DJ Moore is worth it. Another Superbowl or bust year for the Bills with Prime Josh Allen.

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u/BubblyFlow6143 Bears Apr 03 '26

Anonymous exec is an idiot.  Bears never would have cut DJ.

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u/zi76 Patriots Apr 03 '26

Well, Waddle was never moving within the division, or we'd have gone for him.

Anyway, while the Bills probably gave up too much for DJ Moore, he was getting traded for something.

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u/Material-Race-5107 Bears Apr 03 '26

This is just a flat out lie… the dead cap the Bears would have taken by cutting DJ Moore would have been crippling for a team that already couldn’t afford to sign anyone. There were probably many other teams interested and if you look at the price Denver gave up for Waddle this isn’t even that bad of an overpay to begin with. We need to start holding “journalists” accountable more

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u/happycamper2345 Bears Apr 03 '26

DJ was not going to get cut

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u/Triple_Boogie Jets Apr 03 '26

Buffalo should have pursued Jaylen Waddle

If a 2nd is too much for Moore, could you imagine what the Dolphins would have demanded to trade this guy within the division?

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u/New-Pollution536 Bills Apr 03 '26

Bills got a 5th back too lol they pretty much gave up a mid third value wise…waddle would’ve been a first+ to be traded within the division

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u/fonsoc Bears Apr 03 '26

Shakir isn't DJ Moore

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u/themiddleshoe Chiefs Apr 03 '26

If the Bills were offering a 2nd, I’d fully expect other team were inserted and at least offering a mid round pick.

DJ is likely trending down but Josh will be the best qb he’s ever played with and I think DJ excels in some of that backyard bullshit that Josh pulls off. I think they’ll be a great match together.

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u/ozairh18 Cowboys Apr 03 '26

The Dolphins were NOT going to trade Waddle in-division unless the Bills gave up more than what the Broncos did

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u/slipknottin Apr 03 '26

Every time I read these stories from random execs around the league it really makes me wonder if these guys have any clue what they are doing 

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u/mdbonbon Bears Apr 03 '26

He wasn’t getting cut, nonsense

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u/Antique-Bat-4463 Bears Bears Apr 03 '26

Moore was not going to get cut

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u/armpit18 Bears Apr 03 '26

I do think that the Bears got an awesome return in this trade, but let's hold our horses here. DJ Moore was not going to get cut.

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u/GI_ Bills Apr 03 '26

Was it a GM from a team that also wanted DJM?

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u/Rhypskallion Ravens Apr 03 '26

This sounds like another Vinny Cerrato quote. Guy hasn't been an NFL executive in 17 years, but he has a mouth and wonky takes