Everybody felt the Chicago Bears were mostly done with any contract extensions for the time being. Jaylon Johnson was locked up. Montez Sweat got his last October. Only Teven Jenkins and Keenan Allen stood out as possibilities, and both offered few good reasons to get a deal done right now. Jenkins has injury concerns. Allen is 32 and likely asking for a lot. However, there were whispers that the organization did have one name they hoped to get locked up sooner than later. That was DJ Moore.
Now, after his stellar 2023 season, the two sides came to an agreement that will keep the star receiver in Chicago for years to come, according to Adam Schefter.
This is a terrific deal for both sides. Moore gets another $82 million in guaranteed money while the Bears keep him at just $27.5 million per year. He is still only the 7th-highest paid wide receiver in the NFL. Within the next few years, this contract will look like a bargain. GM Ryan Poles deserves so much credit for all of this. He traded for Moore last year. Now he’s ensured Williams has him and Rome Odunze together for the next five years.
DJ Moore extension reflects well on Williams.
The wide receiver has been effusive in his praise of the #1 overall pick, calling his arm talent “amazing.” Getting a deal done this quickly suggests Moore sees which way the winds are blowing. He senses Williams has a chance to become a good quarterback in the NFL, and he doesn’t want to miss the opportunity. Remember, he played with multiple different starters in Carolina and only one year with Justin Fields. Getting the chance to build long-term chemistry with a talented passer is a primary goal.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Barring unforeseen injuries, DJ Moore is tied to the Bears through his 32nd birthday. They have him for the remainder of what should be his physical prime. Then right as his deal is expiring, Odunze will (hopefully) be coming up for one of his own. This is where having a quarterback on his rookie contract can be so beneficial. The Bears are able to lock in star players to big deals, maximizing their window to go after a Super Bowl. All they need is for Williams to be good.
Melhaus,
Remember this as you profess your sympathy for the narcissist.
Leopards dont change their spots.
Sometimes you have to laugh about how things happen or who is responsible. Consider this little tidbit. I don’t know the answer. Did Poles hire Cunningham? Or was that a holdover from the Pace regime? Or was he hired by the McCaskey’s? Or was it the immaculate adoption? Of course, I know Cunningham’s resume and the answer to the question. Surely that was the dumbest hire of Poles’ tenure. Ouch, this disingenuous question asked with an ulterior motive should shame me, but it doesn’t. The reason for my question should be apparent. No matter how many of Poles’ decisions are… Read more »
@Dr. Melhus — I believe that as the Bears’ GM, Ryan Poles gets all the credit and all the blame for what occurs at Halas Hall. Is that fair? Probably not — but in the NFL — that’s how it rolls. So, I’ll give credit to GM,Poles for accepting the excellent DJ Moore and the still-to-come, 2nd-round pick in 2025 (rather than the combination of Brian Burns and Derrick Brown; players that Ryan Poles reportedly targeted). And I won’t even mind that Poles allowed the Panthers’ then-GM, Scott Fitterer to select which of the three veterans (Burns, Brown or Moore)… Read more »
Hey, y’all. Lay off @TGena. His recent posts have been somewhat complimentary of Poles. If he’s coming around, don’t put him in a position where he has to back away from it. And @jmscooby, this doesn’t mean Teven won’t get a contract. It just means he won’t get one right now. They might revisit during the bye week, which was a reasonable time frame to get the DJ deal done. Personally, I like Teven, his story, and I think he’s a great guard when healthy. Now let’s hope he can stay healthy most of the time and merit a decent… Read more »
Cya, Teven.