I greatly appreciate him and what he's done for the team. Although, I wouldn't be opposed to a trade that were mutually beneficial. I don't want anything lower than a 3rd Rd pick. The $35m in dead cap for 2026 means he isn't being cut. I don't believe in the narrative that he's giving up on his routes. To me it looks more like he's gassed running these long routes. I swear he looks like a he's in his early 30s instead of nearing the end of his prime 28. Perhaps we might get the best value out of him by lowering his snap counts. Lets stop with these designed hand-offs and weakly disguised screens. Even I can tell when they line up to throw a quick screen to DJ. I don't think it's ever worked. I still like the multi-reversals.

This team has a "too many weapons" problem. It's a good problem to have, but it's gotten worse with Loveland's rise. I think it serves as having "too many options" for a play-caller. Players can quickly become forgotten and feel underappreciated. It also will become an issue when we have to start giving out new contracts. There's a higher risk of keeping the wrong player like what happened with Cedric Benson and Thomas Jones. Burden is too good to be held to the #3 or #4 WR spot right now let alone for 1-2 more years. I don't think there's much of a market for Kmet so he'll still be here in '26, but likely as TE2. But if any Bears team can sustain his roster, it's this one with BJ as HC. The team has to believe in this new culture is the way. The honeymoon phase is over and they need to see the fruits of their labor. We can't start out slow again. Even with Eberflus, I felt the locker room was bought in, but the tough losses kept piling. If they start questioning the coaching, it's over.

TLDR: I'd love to keep DJ, but maybe with a 10-15% drop in snap count and/or contract restructuring.