NEWSLETTER
Let’s close shop on a Friday while riding a high note.
I was pleasantly surprised to see where Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore landed on Jarrett Bailey’s list of the NFL’s best wide receivers. Bailey’s power rankings, which you can read over at Touchdown Wire, go 32 deep. And it includes a pair of Bears, which has me thrilled to think about Chicago’s passing game when the regular season kicks off in 79 days.
One of which is Moore, and we’ll dive deeper on him momentarily — but only after we touch upon Keenan Allen’s inclusion on the list. Allen, who was acquired in an offseason trade in early March, lands in the top 30 at spot No. 27. Because, as Bailey writes: “Even at age 32, the reliable veteran is coming off a 1,200 yard season and will fit that power slot role perfectly in Shane Waldron’s offense.”
The blurb on Keenan Allen, on its own, probably deserves a more fleshed-out post. Particularly regarding the nugget on Allen playing the power slot receiver role in this offense. Getting into the nitty gritty of what that job entails and what someone with Allen’s talent and résumé brings to that gig is something I’m looking forward to getting into the not-too-distant future. But first, the DJ Moore stuff.
To get to the *SECOND* Chicago Bears wide receiver to make the cut in the top 30, you’ll have to scroll for a while. And once you get into the top-10, that is when you’ll see DJ Moore at No. 9. That’s right, Bears fan. DJ Moore is getting love as a top-10 NFL wide receiver. Finally, DJ is getting his flowers.
Chicago Bears receiver DJ Moore is getting recognition as a top-10 wide receiver
This is what Jarrett Bailey had to say about DJ Moore being the other Bears wideout to crack the top of his best-of list:
It’s amazing to think that Moore has four 1,000 yard seasons and two 90-catch seasons when you also think of the quarterbacks he’s played with. Justin Fields and Moore seemed to be developing a chemistry a year ago, but then Fields got hurt and the reigns when to Tyson Bagent for a bit. Even so, Moore put up new career-highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
The snapshot of DJ Moore put this particular thought in my brain, and now I want to share it on this word document and have it eventually hit your eyeballs: If Moore can build a rapport with Justin Fields and Tyson Bagent so quickly that he puts up career-bests in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns, then imagine what he could do with Caleb Williams. This isn’t too much of a galaxy-brained thought, is it?
For what it’s worth, Chicago’s rookie quarterback is planning to have throwing sessions with DJ Moore (and others) this summer during the downtime between the end of OTAs and the start of training camp. And it’s not as if Caleb wasted anytime getting to know DJ. The two were hitting it off earlier in the offseason when Williams invited Moore to a throwing session in California. Plus, it seems as if the two were making strong connections during Halas Hall minicamp practices. I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, but I have a good feeling about where the arrow is pointing for Caleb Williams and DJ Moore.
DJ MOORE EXTENSION CONVERSATION: Part 1 | Part 2
In the end, we shouldn’t be surprised by DJ Moore’s ranking in the top 10. Moore was Pro Football Focus’ 10th-highest-graded wide receiver and owner of the ninth best receiving grade last season. And while the 2023 campaign was his best showing, Moore has been a top-40 receiver in each of his first six years as a pro. Oh, and he was on the cusp of top-10 status (11th best grade) in 2019. DJ Moore is good at running routes and catching footballs. And I hope one analyst’s ranking is the kind of thing that helps spread the good word.
