Award season has arrived at Halas Hall, and DJ Moore is already bringing in the 🧔hardware.
The Chicago Bears wide receiver was named the team’s MVP and Offensive Player of the Year because, of course, he was. Who else was it going to be? Moore arrived in Chicago with great expectations after a blockbuster spring trade that sent the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Carolina Panthers and proceeded to blow those expectations out of the water. It is rare to see a high-profile name come to the Bears and exceed expectations, but Moore did it. And in doing so, set all sorts of career bests:
While we have a moment, let’s enjoy some DJ Moore highlights
In a year that was mostly unsavory for the Chicago Bears offense, watching DJ Moore operate was worth the price of admission. Quarterback Justin Fields’ description of Moore just about nails it:
“He’s just a great player and playmaker,” Fields said . “Any time you can get the ball in his hands, you’re most likely going to get an explosive play. He’s hard to tackle. He’s like a running back once he gets the ball in his hands.”
It remains to♔ be seen whether it is Fields or Caleb Williams (or someone else?) throwing it to Moore in 2024. But whoever gets the call under center will at least have one bonafide pass-catching target on the outside. And that is more than what F🃏ields had when he arrived in Chicago.
What’s next for DJ Moore?
DJ Moore has publicly backed Justin Fields to be the Bears’ QB1 moving forward. But he has done so in a way that keeps him open to hauling in passes from another starting QB. So, let’s get the idea of Moore demanding a trade out of our heads before it could even get started.
And to further drive home DJ Moore’s desire to stick it out in Chicago, about his future with the team:
But regardless of the path Chicago chooses to pursue, Moore said he wants to be part of the Bears’ future regardless of the QB uncertainty.
“I would like to do at least five years here and then, shoot, maybe retire here,” Moore said. “That’s always the goal.
“I thought I was going to be in Carolina forever. I was there for five years, and I don’t want to be here shorter than that. I’m looking forward to that.”
While the future is fuzzy for JF1, it seems pretty clear for WR1. The Bears have Moore under contract for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, with cap hits of $16.05 million in each of those years, . Moore will be due a pay raise and an extension soon, so I hope the Bears are cognizant of their spending in the next few yea๊rs. The last thing they should be doing is letꦺting a legit WR1 leave while they have a QB on a rookie-sale contract (if that is the path Chicago chooses).
If DJ Moore sees it through to the end and retires with the Bears, the odds are in his favor that he’ll be the franchise’s all-time leading receiver. Moore needs just 3,696 yards to pass Johnny Morris to become the team’s all-time leader in receiving yards. And because you’re curious, Moore grabbing 397 passes between now and the end of his career in Chicago would make him the Bears’ all-time leader in receptions. Passing Walter Payton (492 career receptions) would be quite an honor. But we’ll cross that bridge if (when?) we get to it.
