One year after trading for DK Metcalf, many Pittsburgh Steelers fans are feeling buyer's remorse for the team's decision to pull the trigger on the blockbuster deal with the Seattle Seahawks. Metcalf didn't perform as advertised despite the lofty compensation used to acquire the two-time Pro Bowl receiver.
Thankfully, Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane is here to make Steelers fans feel better.
In a surprise pre-free agency trade on Thursday, the Bills traded for Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore. However, their desperation move to land a No. 1 wide receiver already looks worse than the Steelers' deal for Metcalf.
Though the Bills were able to acquire a starting-caliber receiver in Moore, Buffalo parted ways with their 2026 second-round pick in the process. Meanwhile, Chicago was itching to unload Moore's costly salary after a career-worst season in 2025. The Bills received a fifth-round pick from the Bears in the deal.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' blockbuster trade for DK Metcalf doesn't look as bad after the Bills' deal for DJ Moore
Don't get me wrong, it still appears that the Pittsburgh Steelers are the losers of the DK Metcalf trade. Arthur Smith's offense last season couldn't find a way to feature Metcalf routinely, as the team's top receiver was outpaced in receptions by committee running back and cheap free-agent signing Kenneth Gainwell.
Meanwhile, Seattle went on to win the Super Bowl after shipping Metcalf to Pittsburgh. And it didn't help that the veteran receiver got himself suspended for the final games of the season after getting into a physical altercation with a fan.
But as unsatisfactory as things feel one year after the Metcalf trade, the Bills might have made an even worse move trading for DJ Moore.
In 2025, despite starting all 17 games and playing nearly 1,000 snaps on the season, Moore was able to collect just 50 receptions on 85 targets for 682 yards and six touchdowns. Moore's performance marked a career low in yards per game (40.1) and tied his career low in success rate (47.1 percent).
This came despite having a new head coach and offensive mastermind, Ben Johnson, leading the offense. Moore's production was a far cry from the 1,300-yard season he had in 2023. But the Bills shouldn't expect to get that back from him.
Moore will turn 29 years old before the 2026 NFL Draft, and while this isn't old for a receiver, a player whose game is predicated on his athleticism could start to slow down in the near future.
The worst part might be Moore's contract. Not only did the Bills surrender their second-round pick this year, but they are also forced to take on Moore's lofty contract, which includes $40 million in guarantees over the next two seasons.
Moore has only recorded a 1,000-yard season once over the past four years. Meanwhile, the now nine-year veteran was Pro Football Focus' 58th-ranked wide receiver in 2025, despite a healthy season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers trade for DK Metcalf still doesn't look like a good value decision... but the Buffalo Bills' trade for DJ Moore somehow already looks worse.