ClutchPoints
Sometimes, a brutal ending can force bold thinking. The margin between ‘still a contender’ and ‘stuck in transition’ is often decided by how aggressively a team responds to playoff failure. For the San Francisco 49ers, the answer after their humiliating 41-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round cannot be subtle. That defeat exposed more than injuries or a bad matchup. It also revealed a passing offense without answers once defenses took away the margins. If the Chicago Bears decide to move on from DJ Moore, San Francisco has a rare opportunity to strike decisively. They can reframe their championship window around a proven receiver.
San Francisco’s 2025 campaign was a study in survival. The 49ers finished 11-6 despite losing critical pieces at various points. Those included George Kittle, Trent Williams, and Nick Bosa. Under head coach Kyle Shanahan, they leaned into versatility and efficiency. San Francisco managed to secure a Wild Card berth despite all the personnel issues.
Quarterback Brock Purdy delivered another productive season despite missing eight regular season games. He surpassing 2,100 passing yards while orchestrating an offense still centered around Christian McCaffrey. That formula was just enough to earn a gritty 23–19 road win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round. However, the illusion of resilience shattered a week later, when Seattle overwhelmed San Francisco from the opening kickoff. The Niners absorbed their franchise’s second-worst playoff loss ever. Now, it will accelerate an unavoidable roster reckoning.
The offseason priorities are clear, if not uncomfortable. The 49ers finished dead last in the NFL in sacks (20) and pressure rate. That’s an unthinkable result for a franchise built on defensive line dominance. Getting Bosa healthy will help, as will the return of Mykel Williams, but the numbers demand reinforcements.
Equally pressing is the collapse of the wide receiver room. Brandon Aiyuk’s departure is no longer theoretical but imminent. Jauan Jennings is headed for free agency, and Ricky Pearsall’s availability has been inconsistent. For an offense that managed just 140 passing yards in its season finale, adding a difference-making receiver is truly existential.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the 49ers’ perfect DJ Moore trade offer if the Bears deal their standout wideout.
Moore’s 2025 season with Chicago was quietly productive yet publicly frustrating. His final line had 50 receptions for 682 yards and six touchdowns. That marked a career low in yardage, which was largely due to his reduced role in an offense shifting toward younger options. His efficiency dipped as well, with a career-worst 1.24 yards per route run.
Still, Moore remained available every week and delivered in some big moments. Those included touchdowns in both of the Bears’ playoff games. Unfortunately for Chicago, his year will be remembered for the late overtime miscommunication with quarterback Caleb Williams in the Divisional Round. That resulted in a game-ending interception. Combined with his looming $28.5 million cap hit...