The Chicago Bears finally have a legitimate go-to wide receiver on the roster after searching for that guy over the last two seasons. The trade for Carolina Panthers star D.J. Moore has provided the Bears with a game-breaking talent that quarterback Justin Fields can rely on in any situation. Moore can win on all three levels of the passing game, which is why he is regarded as one of the NFL’s most dynamic playmakers.
Moore’s arrival will significantly impact the rest of the Bears’ wide receiver depth chart. That’s an obvious statement. But it’s an important one nonetheless.
The Chicago Bears invested their 2023 second-round pick in Chase Claypool, whose lacking production in 2022 was given a free pass because of his midseason arrival. The rate of difficulty to assimilate into a new offense and build timing with a new quarterback that late in the year hindered his ability to make much of an impact. Still, Claypool began the offseason as the Bears’ presumptive No. 1 wideout for 2023. That’s not the case anymore.
I think this is the best thing that could’ve happened for Claypool. As talented as he is, and as high of a ceiling that he has, he isn’t a proven WR1 in the NFL… yet. He could eventually become one, even in Chicago. It’s hard imagining a scenario where Claypool would be Fields’ favorite target now that D.J. Moore is in town, but that’s how much natural talent Claypool possesses. If he doesn’t emerge as a legitimate No. 1 for the Bears, he has a chance to be the NFL’s most dangerous second option. If he isn’t, then he’ll simply be a one-year rental.
