Will D.J. Moore Change the Chicago Bears 2023 Outlook?
By Ha Kung Wong
Twitter: @FBGarbageTime
The Chicago Bears have made a major move in their pursuit of a top wide receiver, trading for DJ Moore of the Carolina Panthers. The move has sent shockwaves through the NFL, as the Bears look to provide Justin Fields with weapons which he’s sorely lacked over his first two seasons. And in fact, it also shocked both Moore and Fields, neither of whom saw this coming, though both couldn’t be happier.
.@idjmoore: "I'm here to make everyone around me better and just try to go out and get some wins." pic.twitter.com/UT6JimRuGt
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) March 16, 2023
Moore, a former first-round pick out of Maryland, has been a standout performer for the Panthers over the past three seasons. In 2020, he recorded 1,193 receiving yards and four touchdowns, cementing himself as one of the most talented wideouts in the league. Over the past five seasons of his career, Moore has racked up 5,201 receiving yards with the Carolina Panthers. He’s totaled up 21 touchdowns with the Panthers, 7 of which came last season.
| Game | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rush | Rush | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Tm | G | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Ctch% | Rush | Yds |
| 2018 | CAR | 16 | 82 | 55 | 788 | 2 | 67.1% | 13 | 172 |
| 2019 | CAR | 15 | 135 | 87 | 1175 | 4 | 64.4% | 6 | 40 |
| 2020 | CAR | 15 | 118 | 66 | 1193 | 4 | 55.9% | 2 | 22 |
| 2021 | CAR | 17 | 163 | 93 | 1157 | 4 | 57.1% | 8 | 48 |
| 2022 | CAR | 17 | 118 | 63 | 888 | 7 | 53.4% | 10 | 53 |
| Care | 80 | 616 | 364 | 5201 | 21 | 59.1% | 39 | 335 |
The Bears have been searching for a top-tier receiver for several seasons, and they believe they have found their man in Moore. With his blazing speed and exceptional route-running ability, he is a perfect fit for the Bears’ offense and for Fields. Fields stepped up in his sophomore season averaging 76.2 rush yards per game and a 5.3% thrown TD percentage, 6th highest of any player in the NFL last season in both categories. Although Chase Claypool was acquired mid-season, injury delayed his start leaving Fields to rely on Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet.
The addition of Moore gives the Bears an explosive option at wide receiver, which is something they have been lacking for several seasons. He will join Claypool, Mooney and Kmet in what is potentially one of the more dangerous receiving corps in the NFL.
The move also gives the Bears a talented young receiver to build around for the future. Moore is just 25 years old and has already shown that he has the potential to be one of the league’s top players at his position for many years to come.
Of course, the trade is not without risk. But the Bears gave up the first overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft for the 9th overall pick this year, a 2nd round pick and future 1st and 2nd round picks along with Moore, so we’ll have to wait for the Draft and the end of the 2023 season to properly grade the trade.
Overall, the trade for DJ Moore is a major move for the Chicago Bears. With his speed, talent, and youth, he has the potential to be a game-changer for the team’s offense. The Bears will now look to build around him and Fields with their bounty of draft picks and make a playoff run in the upcoming season.