When the Chicago Bears traded the #1 overall pick, everybody was focused on what GM Ryan Poles got back from the Carolina Panthers regarding draft capital. It wasn’t too bad. A 2nd round pick in 2023, a 1st round pick in 2024, and a 2nd round pick in 2025. However, Poles and others inside the organization felt the true prize of the deal was wide receiver D.J. Moore. He represented the caliber of talent this team needed at that position. He could be the go-to target Justin Fields has lacked. Some people have tried to downplay his potential impact. Greg Olsen wasn’t having any of that.
The former Pro Bowl tight end brings a unique perspective to this discussion. He not only has the eye of a good analyst, but he also played with Moore in Carolina. He knows both the talent and the person. In his mind, he is great in both categories. Olsen explained to Waddle & Silvy on ESPN 1000 that Moore is by far one of the best people he ever played with. The Bears are getting an outstanding person in their locker room. Beyond that, he will be exactly what Fields needs in the passing game. The trade checks every single box.
Olsen saw D.J. Moore thrive in tough circumstances.
It’s hard to excel in the NFL without the presence of at least a decent quarterback. Moore is a rare exception in that he has done so with mostly below-average options. He had a declining Cam Newton as a rookie in 2018 and then got stuck with Kyle Allen in 2019. He still had over 1900 yards combined in those two seasons. If he can do that, it’s exciting to imagine what he might accomplish with a talented player in his prime like Fields. They seem like such a good fit for each other.
Their success comes down to what kind of protection Fields gets from his offensive line. If it’s around average, expect big fireworks from him and D.J. Moore. This doesn’t even account for what his presence will do for Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool. They figure to see a lot more single coverage in games. That is rarely a bad thing, especially if teams fear the play action from the Bears’ ground game. Everything looks like it’s coming into place.
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