Tyler Shough and Chris Olave are rising stars. Could veteran receiver D.J. Moore become the Saints' ultimate missing piece for a 2026 championship run?
As the New Orleans Saints navigate the 2026 offseason, the roster feels like a puzzle with one glaring, jagged hole. We’ve seen the emergence of Tyler Shough as a legitimate answer at quarterback, and Chris Olave has officially ascended to "superstar" status. But after the 2025 mid-season trade of Rashid Shaheed, the depth chart behind Olave looks more like a developmental project than a playoff-caliber unit.
The rumors linking the Chicago Bears’ veteran wideout, D.J. Moore, to New Orleans aren’t just typical "big name, big market" noise. In the context of the current NFL landscape, this is a move that makes too much sense to ignore. Here is why Mickey Loomis needs to be burning up the phone lines to the 312 area code.
The "Crowded House" in Chicago
The Bears find themselves in an enviable, yet complicated, position. With Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III emerging as the future of that franchise, Moore—while still immensely productive, has become a luxury they might not be able to afford. Reports suggest the Bears are exploring blockbuster deals (including a potential swap for Maxx Crosby) to balance their roster.
If Moore is on the block, New Orleans is the perfect landing spot. At 29 years old, he is in his physical prime and possesses the exact "X-receiver" traits that would allow Olave to move more freely within Kellen Moore’s creative offensive schemes.
The Math of the "Cap Guru"
Critics will immediately point to the Saints' perennial cap struggles. Yes, the team is currently looking at a deficit for 2026, but let’s be real: we’ve seen this movie before. Between the projected cap spike and the looming restructures of deals like Chase Young's and Juwan Johnson's, the Saints are actually in a surprisingly flexible position.
Moore’s guaranteed salary for 2026 is a significant pill to swallow, but it’s the kind of investment you make when you have a young QB on a rookie-scale deal. For the first time in a decade, the Saints have the "effective cap space" logic to make a splash without crippling their 2027 future.
Complementary Chaos
What does D.J. Moore bring that the Saints lack? Violence after the catch.
- Chris Olave: The technician and deep threat.
- Devaughn Vele: The reliable "safety blanket" and red-zone body.
- D.J. Moore: The bulldozer.
Moore’s ability to turn a five-yard slant into a 50-yard house call is exactly what this offense needs to take the pressure off Shough. Imagine a secondary trying to bracket Olave while Moore is chewing up yards in the intermediate middle. It’s a defensive coordinator’s nightmare.
Possibly Do the Deal
While the 2026 draft is deep with receiver talent like Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, the Saints are no longer in a "wait and see" mode. The 4-1 finish to the 2025 season proved that this team is closer to contention than many believed.
Adding Moore isn't just about getting better; it's about providing Tyler Shough with the "no-excuses" arsenal required to win the NFC South. If the price is a mid-round pick and a willingness to juggle some numbers, Mickey Loomis should pull the trigger.