One common misconception about trades involving players is that when they happen, the team giving up the player is happy to see them go. That is one of the biggest myths in sports. There are many times when it is the complete opposite. The team doesn’t want to trade the player at all. Sadly, they feel like they have little choice. A sacrifice must be made for the greater good. It sounds like that is precisely what happened with the Carolina Panthers when they gave up D.J. Moore to secure the #1 overall pick.
Drew Rosenhaus is one of the top agents in professional sports and Moore’s representative. He was right in the middle of negotiations between the Panthers and Chicago Bears once the receiver became involved. During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, Rosenhaus made it clear Carolina heavily resisted the idea of giving up Moore. However, Bears GM Ryan Poles was adamant. If they wanted to make a deal early, they would have to include a prominent player. Unwilling to involve Brian Burns or Derrick Brown, the other two possibilities, the Panthers reluctantly agreed.
To say delivering the news was emotional would be an understatement.
When grown men literally shed tears when having to trade somebody, that speaks to what the player meant to the organization. Much of it was his play on the field. Moore was easily the Panthers’ best offensive weapon in the passing game for five years. He helped the team navigate some rough quarterback waters from the decline of Cam Newton through the Sam Darnold era. He was able to produce 1,000-yard seasons despite that, which speaks to his talent. Yet beyond that is the person. Moore was lauded for his leadership and outstanding character as a teammate. Everybody loved him.
It isn’t hard to see why the Bears were adamant about getting him. He fits everything they want in a player. He’s athletic, tough, works hard, plays with intensity, and is also a tremendous person. That is the kind of player you can win a lot of games with. Justin Fields should be a happy man. Poles deserves tons of credit for not backing down in his demands. He knew the leverage he had and used it. The Panthers won’t lose sleep over the deal in the long term if they find the right quarterback. As for D.J. Moore, he could be the key to helping unlock this passing game.
