LAKE FOREST, Ill. — DJ Moore's 'face' said it all. Rather, the yellow, smiling emoji the Chicago Bears wide receiver posted on social media conveyed his anticipation about who he'll align with this fall.
That sentiment spread to other Bears players and the fan base when news leaked Thursday night that Chicago was sending a fourth-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for six-time Pro-Bowl wide receiver, Keenan Allen. Several of Moore's teammates quickly shared his enthusiasm, with safety Jaquan Brisker exclaiming, “Wow!” while the new Bear, safety Kevin Byard, posted “Let's go!!”
Now all Bears general manager Ryan Poles has to do is figure out who will throw to Allen. Whether it's starting quarterback Justin Fields, USC's Caleb Williams or another top draft pick, the Poles have made sure whoever is under center in 2024 has one of the best arsenals the franchise has ever had.
Consider that Johnny Morris, who retired in 1967, is the Bears' all-time leading receiver with 5,059 yards. Allen has 10,530 receiving yards and 59 touchdowns in 11 seasons with the Chargers.
For decades, the Bears have tried to dispel the notion that Chicago is “where receivers go to die,” the expression used by former wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad after he was released by the Bears 16 years ago.
The Poles began doing their part last offseason when they made Moore the focal point of the blockbuster trade that sent the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for four picks and the standout wide receiver. After five seasons in Carolina with eight different quarterbacks throwing him the ball, Moore posted career highs in receptions (96), receiving yards (1,364), yards per game (80.2) and touchdowns (8) last season.
Allen is also coming off one of the best seasons of his career in 2023 despite missing the last four games with a heel injury. He led Los Angeles in receptions (1,243 yards), receiving touchdowns (7), and set the Chargers' single-season reception record (108), which marked his fifth 100-catch season (tied for third-most in the history of the NFL). The Bears haven't had a player with 100 catches in a season since Allen Robinson II in 2020 (102).
League-wide, eight players had at least 90 receptions and 1,200 receiving yards last season. According to ESPN Stats and Information, the only two currently on the same team are Allen and Moore.
The Bears' last great wide receiver tandem spanned three seasons when Alshon Jeffrey and Brandon Marshall teamed up from 2012 to 2014. With Jay Cutler at quarterback, Jeffrey and Marshall earned Pro Bowl honors in 2013. It was a passing attack between top five in yards and touchdowns and the No. 2 scoring offense in the NFL.
That success was short-lived and the Bears have struggled to find complementary pieces around their quarterbacks to sustain success. Whether it's Fields or a rookie, the Bears will start a young, developing quarterback in 2024. The Poles' strategy was to give that quarterback as much help as possible.
“From Day 1 of training camp to Week 15 or where he stopped practicing, he gave it his all, and I look at myself like, 'This guy still has it,'” new Bears linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga said. , who played with the Chargers from 2021-23. “He spent many years in the tank. That's what people don't understand. They could look at his age (31) and question it, but no, he has the juice.”
“It's going to bring some special moments to the city of Chicago. They're going to love it. I'm excited.”
Allen isn't the Bears' only new offensive weapon. Chicago also signed running back D'Andre Swift, who is coming off a Pro Bowl season with the Eagles.
Allen has a $5 million roster bonus that expires Sunday and he will turn 32 next month. Sending a fourth-round pick to Los Angeles for a player who will account for $23.1 million against the salary cap is an expensive price to pay without an extension. While one might come soon for Allen, his time in Chicago won't be as long as the years he spent with the Chargers.
But if his impact is anything like what he provided to the Chargers, any young Bears quarterback throwing in his direction will know his teammates were very excited when they heard the news.
