Former Bears WR Admits He Wasn’t Ready For How Good D.J. Moore Is

Tom Waddle knows a thing or two about the history of Chicago Bears wide receivers. He used to be one himself, helping the organization make the playoffs in 1991 and 1994. His career was cut short by injuries, but he became a fan favorite during his brief career. That opened up opportunities for him to become one of the top local radio analysts in the city, something he’s done since 1997. During that time he’s watched a lot of good receivers come and go, from Marcus Robinson to Marty Booker, Muhsin Muhammad, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, and Allen Robinson. Waddle thought he had a good idea of what to expect when the Bears traded for D.J. Moore.

He was mistaken. The former receiver got to attend Bears Organized Team Activities over the past couple of weeks. While he’s been encouraged by various things, Moore stood out above everything else. He spoke on Kap & J-Hood for ESPN 1000 about it. While no games have been played yet, Waddle is already convinced of one thing. Moore is the best player on the Bears’ roster.

D.J. Moore wasted no time getting acclimated.

All reports out of Halas Hall indicate he’s been giving the defense fits, starters and backups alike. He and quarterback Justin Fields already have a strong connection, and it’s only getting better. They’re doing it without the benefit of scheming or the presence of both Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney, both of whom are nursing injuries. Many experts have said Moore’s true potential was never realized in Carolina because of their lacking quarterback situation and zero coaching stability. Fields is the most talented QB he’s been paired with.

There is still plenty of proving to do. Excelling in shorts is far easier than pads. Things get way more physical once training camp starts. D.J. Moore will get plenty of tough bumps and re-directs from Bears cornerbacks, hoping to slow him down. This is nothing he hasn’t seen before. He’s quickness to evade them on the release while also strong enough to fight through contact. It is one of the many reasons GM Ryan Poles traded for him. If Waddle is correct in his assessment, this could be a fun year for the offense.