Examining the Bears’ receiver void
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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Did you anticipate, you know, a trade could happen first off? And second, what was your reaction when you found out this is where you were coming?
I didn't I didn't take a trade off the table in my mind throughout the throughout this time.
What prompted the Bears to trade DJ Moore?
So and when it happened, I was like, OK, it's the business side of things. And then I heard it was the bills and then I got super excited and I'm ready to roll.
DJ Moore at his introductory press conference after being traded to the Buffalo Bills. I get why you're excited. You're playing with an MVP in Josh Allen. And they had a serious problem not having a playmaking receiver. So now you're salivating at the mouth, Mr. Moore, about all the targets you're about to get in Josh Allen's offense. So I completely understand that. And this seems like a win-win trade for everyone involved. whether it's the teams who get what they need, Bears getting an additional second-round draft pick this year, whether it's the Bills who get what they sorely had been missing in a playmaker at the receiver spot, a veteran in DJ Moore who is still very much in his prime. Josh Allen's got to be happy with this decision.
And ultimately, the Bears, they look good because they have more opportunities for their younger receivers to now step up. The problem is... They need all of their younger receivers and would-be pass catchers to step up. This is Rahimi Harrison, Grody, Russell Dorsey, alongside Marshall Harris here in the 11 o'clock hour to talk a little Bears with you and what Ben Johnson had to say in his media availability from the NFL owners meeting. But let's be honest, Russell. We know the Bears, they have to figure this thing out if they want to take the next step as an offense. They do. They do. And it's not going to get easier without DJ Moore. I will say that I think... there's a huge opportunity for Colston Loveland in this second year of his career, in his second year under Ben Johnson in the system with the Chicago Bears.
Because we don't know, like there's not an easy answer for who the Bears' number one receiver is going to be in 2026. I think a lot of people had started to say, you know, towards the end of the season, it looked like Colston Loveland was the primary target on a lot of different routes. And he seemed like that security blanket, for Caleb Williams and I think it's easy to kind of see into the future and say you know this could be a guy that has 80 plus catches a thousand yards 10 touchdowns because you know Caleb Williams is going to be looking for him but also the with the guys on the roster he could be the best playmaker they have
How do the Bears benefit from trading DJ Moore?
Oh, no, Colston Loveland is definitely the best playmaker that the Bears have right now. Amongst pass catchers, yeah. Yeah, well, no, I would just say period. As far as when you talk about Caleb Williams reaching his potential, understand this. Colston Loveland was targeted three times less than DJ Moore last year and played one less game than DJ Moore. Colston Loveland had eight more catches than DJ Moore last year and had just as many touchdown catches as DJ Moore last year. If you look at what he did first half of the season versus last half of the season, it's pretty clear to me Colston Loveland is going to be the ultimate chess piece for Ben Johnson. Not just looking back at how he's used tight ends in the past before he got to Chicago, but just as far as where Colston Loveland was taken in the draft as the first player drafted in the Ben Johnson era, and understanding if you're looking for mismatches,
Scheme-wise, because of Colston Loveland's physicality, what he brings as a tight end as opposed to being a receiver, I think it's clear he's going to surpass both what DJ Moore did last year, both his own numbers as the leading receiver for the Bears last year, but even with what you hope will be a Roma Dunzey who kind of gets back to where we expect him to be in year three, I think Colston Loveland's second season is going to be better than Roma Dunzey's third season as a Bear.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–0:20
2
What prompted the Bears to trade DJ Moore?
0:20–2:58
3
How do the Bears benefit from trading DJ Moore?
2:58–7:21
4
Who are the potential receivers stepping up for the Bears?
7:21–10:34
5
What role will Colston Loveland play in the Bears' offense?
10:34–13:59
6
How do the Bears plan to fill the leadership void left by DJ Moore?
13:59–18:31
Speakers
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