After another postseason run where their passing attack struggled to create consistent separation downfield, the Buffalo Bills appear ready to make their boldest move yet to address the issue surrounding Josh Allen. League chatter suggests Buffalo is exploring a trade for an established outside receiver who could reshape the offense. But such a move would also place fresh pressure on a young former high draft pick.

While the offense has foundational pieces like star running back James Cook, the passing game has consistently lacked a dynamic outside threat to complement the ground attack and take pressure off Josh Allen. That problem has shown up in big games, especially during the playoffs, even when the front office has spent the offseason trying to fix that issue. And now, that issue seems solved.

“ESPN sources: the Chicago Bears are working to finalize a trade that would send WR D.J. Moore to the Buffalo Bills,” Schefter wrote in the IG caption. “Compensation still is being discussed, and the trade cannot be processed until the new league year begins, but both sides are pushing to make it happen.”

Buffalo will send a 2026 second-round pick to Chicago in exchange for Moore and a 2026 fifth-round pick. League sources say the deal would bring the 28-year-old receiver to Buffalo after three seasons with the Chicago Bears, where he recorded 244 receptions for 3,012 yards and 20 touchdowns. However, his 2025 campaign, 50 catches for 682 yards, marked the lowest production of his career. But, for Buffalo, the appeal goes beyond simple numbers.

The move would reunite Moore with Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, the same coach who oversaw some of the receiver’s most productive seasons earlier in his career with the Carolina Panthers. Brady’s offense in Carolina leaned heavily on spacing concepts and intermediate route combinations that allowed Moore to attack multiple levels of the field. During their time together, Moore became a central piece of the Panthers’ passing attack, thriving on deep crossers, vertical sideline routes, and layered route concepts designed to create separation.

He has four 1,000-yard seasons in his career. Two of those seasons came under the guidance of current Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady during their shared time with the Carolina Panthers.

That familiarity is a significant reason the potential reunion is viewed as a natural fit. Moore already understands the terminology, timing, and route structure Brady prefers, while Brady knows exactly how to deploy the receiver’s strengths. In practical terms, that means Moore could step into Buffalo’s system without the same learning curve many mid-career acquisitions face.

During the 2020 and 2021 seasons with Brady calling plays, Moore recorded a combined 2,350 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. That success could give Buffalo hope that the connection can work again. Moore also spent five seasons in Carolina before being traded to Chicago in 2023 as part of the blockbuster deal that ultimately allowed the Bears to draft quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick the following year.

The fit in Buffalo’s offense is also straightforward from a schematic perspective. Allen’s style of play often extends beyond the structure of the play, forcing receivers to win late in routes and uncover downfield. Moore has built his reputation on precisely that ability, separating quickly off breaks and finding open space in intermediate and deep areas of the field. That skill set aligns well with Allen’s aggressive downfield approach and ability to throw outside the pocket.

From Buffalo’s perspective, the move would address a void that has lingered since the team traded away former All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs. The Bills attempted several fixes over the past two seasons, signing Curtis Samuel, trading for Amari Cooper, and later adding Joshua Palmer, but none consistently filled the outside “Z” receiver role or provided the vertical separation the offense needed.

That specific role, the outside receiver capable of stretching defenses and forcing secondaries to respect the deep ball, has been one of the offense’s most glaring gaps. Without a reliable boundary threat, defenses have been able to compress the field against Buffalo’s passing game, making explosive plays harder to generate. Moore’s skill set could help change that.

Known for his ability to create separation and uncover in intermediate and deep areas, he would give Allen a receiver capable of stretching defenses, something Buffalo’s offense struggled to generate throughout the 2025 season. With Allen approaching his 30th birthday and the team still firmly in a win-now window, the move would signal a clear attempt to maximize the quarterback’s prime years.

The dip in Moore’s production last season also came with several contextual factors. Chicago’s offense underwent multiple structural changes, including a transition at quarterback and evolving offensive priorities that spread targets across the receiving group. Moore went from being the clear focal point of the passing attack to sharing opportunities in a system still adjusting to rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. That shift reduced his overall target share and rhythm within the offense, contributing to what ultimately became the least productive statistical season of his career.

Moore’s arrival would immediately shake up the wide receiver depth chart, vaulting him to the top and raising new questions about Keon Coleman’s role. If the deal goes through, it could bring fresh questions about Coleman’s future.

How a D.J. Moore trade impacts Buffalo’s faith in Keon Coleman

Even with the trade buzz, the Bills are not eager to move on from Coleman right now. Reports say team leaders still believe the young receiver can take a big step forward in the coming season. NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe recently shared that Buffalo’s leadership has made its stance clear.

“Now let’s go to Buffalo… one guy they do not want to trade at this time is receiver Keon Coleman,” Wolfe said in the video shared on X this Tuesday.

“I talked with their general manager, Brandon Beane, and their head coach Joe Brady. They both were adamant they think Keon Coleman’s gonna have the best season of his career and they don’t want to trade him.”

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Wolfe also revealed that Buffalo’s leadership went a step further during the offseason to reinforce that message. According to the reporter, Beane and Brady met directly with Coleman’s agent at the NFL Scouting Combine to outline their expectations for the receiver’s third season.

“They shared how they believed in him and what his plan was to have a big 2026,” Wolfe explained, adding that team owner Terry Pegula also met with the agent and expressed strong support for the young wideout.

Coleman entered the league as the No. 33 overall pick in the 2024 draft out of Florida State Seminoles football. The 6-foot-4 receiver posted 29 catches for 556 yards and four touchdowns in 2024 before adding 38 receptions for 404 yards and four more scores in 2025.

His second season started strong with eight catches for 112 yards and a touchdown in a Week 1 win over the Baltimore Ravens. But his production dropped after that, finishing the rest of the year with only 30 catches for 292 yards.

Availability also became a concern. Coleman was listed as a healthy scratch multiple times during the season, with reports pointing to issues such as oversleeping and being late to team activities. At the same time, the young receiver was said to be frustrated with how he was being used in the offense.

Coleman’s development has faced hurdles, including being a healthy scratch for disciplinary reasons. These on-field availability issues were compounded by reports that the young receiver was also unhappy with his role in the offense.

Team owner Pegula even addressed the situation earlier. He said the coaching staff strongly supported drafting Coleman, explaining the decision behind the pick.

“I’ll address the Keon situation. The coaching staff pushed to draft Keon,” Pegula said, via ESPN News Services. “I’m not saying Brandon wouldn’t have drafted him, but [Coleman] wasn’t his next choice.”

Pegula added that Beane ultimately followed the recommendation of the coaching staff, noting that the general manager had taken criticism for the pick despite the decision being collaborative.

If Moore joins the roster, the pressure on Coleman to prove he belongs as a key target for Allen will intensify, despite the team’s public belief in his potential.

Still, Buffalo appears determined to give the former second-round pick another opportunity. With the receiver room still searching for a breakout playmaker beyond slot standout Khalil Shakir, Coleman’s third season could ultimately determine whether he becomes a long-term piece of the Bills’ offense or simply a talented prospect who never quite found his footing in Buffalo.