Proof D.J. Moore Has A Track Record Of Elevating His QBs

The Chicago Bears traded the #1 overall pick to Carolina in early March. One of the non-negotiable parts of that deal was the Panthers including wide receiver D.J. Moore in the package. Carolina resisted for a long time, not wanting to give up their best weapon in the passing game. In the end, desperate for a quarterback, they relented. GM Ryan Poles felt this was essential to helping his young quarterback Justin Fields take the next step. Moore is the type of talent that can really help in a variety of ways.

What people aren't sure of is how much he can truly help elevate the Bears quarterback. Some are reluctant to call him a #1 wide receiver. Yet one thing is undeniable. When looking at Moore's track record, he elevates every QB he plays with. At least when it comes to passing yards. Below are the numbers of every primary starter he's caught passes from, noting their per-game passing totals before working with him and then during.

Cam Newton

• 2017 yards per game: 206.4
• 2018 yards per game: 242.5

Teddy Bridgewater

• 2019 yards per game: 153.8
• 2020 yards per game: 248.9

Sam Darnold

• 2020 yards per game: 184.0
• 2021 yards per game: 210.6

It's undeniable. Quarterbacks rack up more yards through the air when they have Moore as an option. Fields averaged 149.5 yards per game through the air last year. Moore's QBs improved by an average of 52.6 yards per game. If that holds true for Fields, he will average 202.1 yards this season. That works out to 3,435 yards across 17 starts.

D.J. Moore will fix the Fields issue everybody obsesses over.

After all, passing yards indicate an eventual Super Bowl champion, right? Never mind that the NFL's passing leader has won the championship exactly once in the past 30 years. Jokes aside, it's acknowledged Fields must be able to throw more. He doesn't have to light up the stat sheet, but he must at least be able to keep the offense balanced. Too many times last year, opponents knew they had the game won when the Bears were forced to throw the ball. That should change this year.

If D.J. Moore can get Fields closer to a split of 3500 yards passing and 600 yards rushing, the offense should benefit in a big way. The Bears quarterback won't have to run out of necessity anymore, protecting his body from too many hits. Moore's presence will also open opportunities for others like Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, and Cole Kmet. He is a true multiplier in the passing game. No way Robbie Anderson cracks 1,000 yards in 2020 without having Moore across from him.

This guy makes life much easier for his quarterbacks.