Hidden Benefits of the D.J. Moore Trade and Other Bears Bullets

Yesterday was one of the best baseball experiences I’ve ever been a part of as a fan.

So, of course, Javier Báez was in the middle of it:

Saturday’s World Baseball Classic experience was a nice reminder that pushing yourself to go out and do stuff can be very rewarding.

  • I bet the schedule makers will have fun with this: The Bears are set to play a home game against the Panthers THIS YEAR. Put that one on a primetime island, you cowards.
  • Did you know last year’s Bears had two top-10 run-blocking receivers on the roster? Well, now you do. Equanimeous St. Brown (67.5) and Dante Pettis (67.4) check in at Nos. 9 and 10, per Pro Football Focus’ grading. And let it be known that it wasn’t just the guys on the bottom of the depth chart doing work in that regard. Chase Claypool (62.0) was 29th on the leaderboard. Meanwhile, Darnell Mooney (41st) and the newest Bear D.J. Moore (43rd) also check in among the 50 highest-graded run-blocking receivers. It’s not the category you want to have a bunch of receivers crowding the leaderboard, but it’s not inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.
  • Free agent Jakobi Meyers (69.2) was the sixth-highest graded receiver in terms of run-blocking (just in case the Bears want to further bolster that group).
  • Seriously, isn’t this nice to see?
  • Look … we know how important a legit WR1 option can be for a quarterback. And we know what Moore has done as a top dawg. And we can dream about what he can do in the future. But the football nerd in me digs that he is a willing blocker in the run game. Every bit counts when building an offense.
  • Run blocking is cool, but you just love when a receiver can do this:
  • If you’re an offensive player who is about to become an unrestricted free agent, you’re probably calling your agent and telling them you want to be a part of what is happening in Chicago … right? The buzz surrounding this team is palpable.
  • The hidden benefits of the new guy’s arrival keep rolling in:
  • Things I need to get used to: It is D.J. Moore. Not DJ Moore. It’s a small thing, but something I take seriously because names don’t have to be impossible to get correct.
  • The post-trade reaction tweets are still popping up on my timeline:
  • I just can’t get enough, just like Depeche Mode.
  • A view from the other side of the trade:
  • Win-win trades don’t make headlines. But a universe exists in which Chicago got an absolute haul in the trade and Carolina ends up getting a solution to their quarterback problem. This isn’t me trying to play Switzerland, either. I truly think this has the potential to be one for both sides. Maybe I’m a romantic who thinks things can work out for everyone at the end of the day. Or perhaps we’re existing in the timeline in which the Bears got Justin Fields his star receiver while also getting multiple picks that pan out *AND* the Panthers land on a quarterback who leads their franchise moving forward.
  • We hear way too much about how trade-ups for quarterbacks who don’t work while trade-ups for Patrick Mahomes (2017), Josh Allen (2018), Lamar Jackson (2018), and Michael Vick (2001) never seem to get brought up in the discussion of whether to not it is worth it to trade up or not. If whichever quarterback Carolina lands on turns into gold, then few will think about what it cost for the Panthers to get that pick. That is how outsized the importance is when it comes to the quarterback position.
  • Chicago’s football team is often in the crosshairs of NFL history:

  • Until we get a Cole Kmet extension, I’ll be looking at every tight end deal with an extra bit of curiosity:
  • I usually respect petty, but…
  • Is it bad that I laughed?
  • written by

    Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

    more bears news

    We Could See 6 Quarterbacks Go in Round 1 of the NFL Draft

    NFL Draft followers seem to have settled on four quarterbacks going somewhere in the top 10 picks. Many appear to think that we could get a draft with quarterbacks going 1, 2, 3, 4 in succession at the top. Others...

    Chicago Bears 2024 NFL Draft Fits: Running Backs and Linebackers

    The 2024 NFL Draft begins TODAY. Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles, Assistant GM Ian Cunningham, Head Coach Matt Eberflus, and others will put their heads together to come up with a winning plan for the team’s four picks (Nos....

    Final Bears Draft Predictions & Dream Scenarios For The 1st Round

    We've been talking about this day since the Bears' 0-4 start to last season, and it's finally here. It's NFL Draft day. We know it'll be Caleb Williams at first overall, but what direction will the Bears go with the...

    Rome Odunze and Caleb Williams Have Discussed What It Would Be Like to be Bears Teammates

    If the Chicago Bears end up drafting Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, I imagine this tweet from Tom Pelissero is going to get a ton of engagement: https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1782905425689522654 In fairness, it already has gotten all sorts of clicks. But that...

    Final 2024 NFL Mock Draft: How Will The 1st Round Unfold In Detroit?

    Draft Day is finally here! We've taken quite a few cracks at what the first round could look like, and this will be the last one before the NFL Draft kicks off tonight! It still feels like a really unpredictable...

    Chicago Bears 2024 NFL Draft Fits: Defensive Linemen

    The 2024 NFL Draft begins Thursday. Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles, Assistant GM Ian Cunningham, Head Coach Matt Eberflus, and others will put their heads together to come up with a winning plan for the team’s four picks (Nos....

    Caleb Williams Shares Who He’d Take With the No. 9 Pick

    The Chicago Bears drafting Caleb Williams with the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is a foregone conclusion. However, what happens with the Bears' other first-round pick is anything but a lock. One name we haven't discussed much as...

    Happy NFL Draft Day! (And Other Bears Bullets)

    Today is the day we've been waiting for since the NFL regular season ended. It's NFL Draft Day! The Chicago Bears have the first pick. Unless something unexpected happens, it'll be USC quarterback Caleb Williams getting the nod. Now that...

    And Now Penei Sewell Has Signed a MASSIVE Extension With The Lions

    Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes is hard at work today! It's fitting that just a day before the 2024 NFL Draft kicks off in Detroit, the Lions have locked up two franchise, homegrown cornerstones just hours apart. This morning,...

    Take a Look at the New Chicago Bears Stadium Renderings

    The Chicago Bears unveiled plans for their downtown lakefront stadium proposal on Wednesday. And as you might expect, it is very kind on the eyes: https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1783185834490888461 The Bears even gave the project a code name — The Burnham Park Project: The...

    Latest News

    Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals Series April 26-28: Odds, Starting Pitchers & Predictions

    A three-game series featuring the Detroit Tigers and the visiting Kansas City Royals will start on Friday, April 26 at 1:10 PM ET.Tigers vs. Royals Series Info Royals @ Tigers Time: Friday, April 26 at 1:10 PM ET Tigers Starting...

    We Could See 6 Quarterbacks Go in Round 1 of the NFL Draft

    NFL Draft followers seem to have settled on four quarterbacks going somewhere in the top 10 picks. Many appear to think that we could get a draft with quarterbacks going 1, 2, 3, 4 in succession at the top. Others...

    Dallas Cowboys 2024 NFL Draft Big Board: Potential First-Round Fits Including Tackle and WR

    The Dallas Cowboys enter the 2024 offseason with the familiar feeling of championship aspirations. Dak Prescott is healthy, the skill positions are loaded, but the offensive line, once a strength, is in flux. With the 24th overall pick in the...

    2024 MLB Mock Draft: Wake Forest Dominates First Round

    With the invigorating spirit of a new baseball season upon us, igniting hope and anticipation within fan communities, it's the perfect time to embark on a unique exploration: a 2024 MLB Mock Draft. Numerous mock drafts meticulously analyze potential player...

    76ers vs. Knicks: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks are playing in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs, with Game 3 up next.The Knicks beat the 76ers 104-101 on Monday when they last met. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks in the...

    Donovan Mitchell Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Magic – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

    To beat his 3-point over/under, Donovan Mitchell needs to make four from beyond the arc on Thursday, when his Cleveland Cavaliers face the Orlando Magic in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, beginning at 7:00 PM...

    Caris LeVert Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Magic – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

    At 7:00 PM ET on Thursday, in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, it'll be the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Orlando Magic -- with Caris LeVert needing to score just once from beyond the arc to...

    Josh Hart Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the 76ers – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

    To beat his 3-point over/under, Josh Hart needs to make two from beyond the arc on Thursday, when his New York Knicks play the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, starting at 7:30...

    Jalen Brunson Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the 76ers – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

    At 7:30 PM ET on Thursday, in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, it'll be the New York Knicks versus the Philadelphia 76ers, with Jalen Brunson needing three trifectas to beat his 3-pointer prop.Jalen Brunson's Three-Pointer...

    Donte DiVincenzo Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the 76ers – NBA Playoffs Game 3, Thursday, April 25, 2024

    To beat his 3-point prop, Donte DiVincenzo must make four from downtown on Thursday, when his New York Knicks play the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 3 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, starting at 7:30 PM ET.Donte DiVincenzo's...

    more bears news

    Latest News