LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The temptation to wait teams out longer in conversations and to potentially get more in a trade for the first pick in the NFL Draft didn’t take hold of Bears general manager Ryan Poles.
“You think like this could get even bigger,” he said, “but I also think that if you get a little greedy, it can come back to get you, too.”
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What Poles did know is that the Panthers were willing to part with receiver D.J. Moore in order to get the first selection of the draft.
He couldn’t pass on that. He didn’t want more but Moore.
“Sometimes you wait too long and things move on,” Poles said at Halas Hall on Thursday, a day after the blockbuster trade became official in the NFL’s new league year.
“Trades are hard. When you’re a part of them and they pop up and you’re having those conversations, they’re not comfortable conversations, especially when you’re moving on from a player. So the longer that you’re talking about it and thinking about it, you can start to sway a little bit. So, when we hit a position where I was comfortable, we were good with it.”
Moving back from No. 1 to No. 9 in the draft meant that the Bears would be passing on good players.
“That’s where having D.J. Moore part of the package really got us over the edge because we knew we were getting a top-end player included in that,” Poles said.
Here’s a look at what the Bears envision for Moore and other free-agent additions and how the offense can potentially improve with them.
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The superstar receiver
The list of quarterbacks Moore played with in Carolina over five seasons starts with Cam Newton and ends with Sam Darnold. In between, there was Kyle Allen, Will Grier, Teddy Bridgewater, Baker Mayfield and new Bears backup P.J. Walker.
“I won’t call that a mess, but (to) come to a better situation with a stable quarterback, the sky’s the limit from there — and consistency,” Moore said Thursday.
Moore, though, managed to be, well, consistent through it all. He produced three 1,000-yard seasons and caught 21 touchdowns passes over his five years in Carolina. In 2020, he averaged 18.1 yards per reception. He produced yards after the catch (YAC): 421, 384, 382 and 426 before dropping to 182 last season (per Pro Football Reference).
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“I think everybody’s level can reach a new level here now that I’m here,” Moore said.
That starts with being the top option for quarterback Justin Fields. But his presence should also expand the opportunities for receivers Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool and tight end Cole Kmet. Fields, Moore, Mooney and Claypool attended the Bulls game together on Wednesday night.
“I’m not just here to be like, ‘I’m here,’ just like a bright light,” Moore said. “I’m here to make everyone around me better and we just want to try to get some wins.”
Moore described himself as an energetic and fun playmaker. Poles — who also added former Packers tight end Robert Tonyan with a one-year deal later Thursday — said he sees a receiver who “can create separation and make big plays.’”
“I think this league shows you good teams have guys that make big plays in big moments,” Poles continued. “That’s finishing a game off in the fourth quarter or … getting things kicked off in the beginning. D.J. has those traits. And we’re excited to have him.”
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Feeling right at home
Asked where new guard Nate Davis fits, Poles hinted at potential changes up front for returning players, namely Cody Whitehair.
“There’s some flexibility and some conversations where Cody could work some center,” Poles said. “He’s got almost 4,000 snaps there, had some good seasons there. So, we’re going to move it around a little bit and see if we can get the best front three possible.”
The Bears’ best three on the interior line could be Teven Jenkins at left guard, Whitehair at center and Davis at right guard. But they’re months away from taking the field together. Right guard, though, has been Davis’ only position in the NFL. Whitehair and Jenkins have moved around.
In Davis, Poles sees the Bears getting a “young guy that can get moving at the point and (be) really good in pass protection.” Davis said that he played left guard in the past, but those snaps last came in a game for Charlotte in college.
“I’m a great teammate first of all,” Davie said. “I’m smart. I’m tough. I bring physicality, a little bit of speed, too. Just somebody who’s going to just be there, be tough, be willing to do anything they ask.”
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That appears to be at right guard. It would be surprising if that changed given the Bears’ financial commitment to Davis and how well he handled the position for the Titans over the past four seasons.
The Bears’ zone scheme fits Davis, but he said he appreciates the physicality they want to play with most of all.
“I can bring a lot to this team,” Davis said. “That’s the reason why I play the game. That’s why they want me and that’s why I’m here because they believe in me.”
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Depth, protection and more
Poles was reminded running back Travis Homer was “a guy I’ve loved since college” in the Bears’ second preseason game last year in Seattle. On first-and-10 from the Seahawks’ 25 in the second quarter, Homer broke off a 33-yard run through the Bears defense. The play went left, but he cut back right, eluding multiple tacklers, including cornerback Kyler Gordon.
“Really good special teams player, but when he has opportunities to run, he makes the most of it,” Poles said. “He’s explosive. He’s fast. You probably all saw him in the preseason game last year.”
No one is saying the Bears signed Homer to replace fan favorite David Montgomery, who left for the Lions in free agency. He has 453 career rushing yards to Montgomery’s 3,609.
But you can say that about D’Onta Foreman, who agreed to a one-year deal worth a reported $3 million. Last season with the Panthers, Foreman ran for 914 yards and five scores, including five 100-yard games after Christian McCaffrey was traded to the 49ers. Montgomery had 801 rushing yards last season.
Expectations should start with Foreman forming a potent pairing with Khalil Herbert. Similar to Homer, Poles would likely describe Foreman as fast and explosive.
Homer can still become a new third-down option for their backfield — one who could help Fields hang in the pocket and get passes off cleanly.
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“I would say I’m one of the best pass-protecting backs in the league and I’m going to make sure I stay true to that,” Homer said. “I’m just going to come in here and do what I need to do. Just hopefully be someone that people can depend on.”
Especially on special teams.
Homer said he loves playing on them.
“(I’ve) been the personal protector on punt,” he said. “On kick return, I’ve been on the front line, mid-line and returning, of course. Kickoff, they moved me around wherever, same thing with punt return. I’m ready to be whoever you need me to be.”
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An old friend and new help
Quarterback P.J. Walker was more than a teammate of Moore’s with the Panthers. He was his neighbor in Charlotte.
“It’s a good feeling knowing that he’s going to be here,” Walker said. “I know what he brings to the table.”
And soon enough, Fields will, too.
Walker is here for QB1 as well. The Bears released Trevor Siemian, who had one more year remaining on his contract, on Wednesday. Supporting Fields always comes first. And Walker wants to be a leader in that capacity. He pointed to his rookie season in Indianapolis when Jacoby Brissett backed up then-starter Andrew Luck.
“Just seeing how things worked in the building, seeing how he was as a leader towards the team, how people gravitated towards him even though he was in a backup role, it just showed me how to also be a leader towards these guys around me even though I’m in a backup role,” Walker said. “You still need that guy to talk with the receivers, the starters, just having the conversation.”
(Top photo of D.J. Moore: Grant Halverson / Getty Images)
