There is no question that the National Football League is in its golden age of wide receivers. With the passing game as important as it's ever been, receivers may fall only behind quarterbacks and pass rushers in terms of celebrity and impact.
With so many talented pass catchers, some of the best can be overlooked.
Such is the case with Chicago Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore. Moore finished 13th in the NFL last season with 96 catches and his 1,364 receiving yards were good for sixth. However, Moore was left off the Pro Bowl and All-Pro rosters.
One player who doesn’t take Moore for granted is also one of his rivals at the position and in the division. Amon-Ra St. Brown, First-team All-Pro in 2023, says Moore is the most underrated receiver in the game.
“I like his game,” St. Brown told ESPN’s Mina Kimes on her podcast. “He catches everything, literally everything thrown his way.”
He’s one of the hardest to tackle in the league. He reminds me a lot of Deebo (Samuels) with the ball in his hands. He’s fast. He’s quick. When you watch him play, when you watch him run routes, you might think ‘Ooh, that’s probably not the best receiver I’ve seen’ but he’s getting open at a constant rate. He’s catching everything thrown his way. He’s producing.”
The Bears expect him to produce for years to come after signing Moore to a four-year $110 million extension on July 31. It’s the most expensive contract in franchise history.
In 97 career games, Moore has 460 receptions for 6,565 yards and 29 touchdowns while averaging 14.3 yards per catch. He has more than 1,100 receiving yards in four of the past five seasons.
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