In the 2018 NFL draft, the Carolina Panthers selected wide receiver DJ Moore out of the University of Maryland with the 24th overall pick. But even though they made themselves a really good choice, was it the right one?
Bleacher Report NFL analyst Gary Davenport recently set his time machine to four years in the past and ran back the proceedings. And in his re-draft, the Panthers wind up with . . . (drumroll, please) . . . DJ Moore!
“Over the past few seasons in Charlotte, DJ Moore has been almost robotically consistent—in spite of QB play that has been, um, less than ideal,” Davenport writes.
“In each of the past three years, Moore has topped 65 receptions. In each of the past three years, Moore has amassed between 1,100 and 1,200 receiving yards. And in each of the past three years, Moore has caught four touchdown passes.
“Moore may not quite have the ability to take over a game the way that Davante Adams or Tyreek Hill can. But the 6’0″, 210-pounder is a rock-solid No. 1 receiver entering the prime of his career who has missed just two games in four seasons.”
As Davenport notes, Moore’s consistency is almost scary. He’s put up those sparkling numbers—and stayed on the field for nearly the entire time—despite playing a taxing role in the Carolina offense with no continuity under center.
Moore, in his four-year career, has had seven different starting quarterbacks—Cam Newton, Kyle Allen, Taylor Heinicke, Will Grier, Teddy Bridgewater, PJ Walker and Sam Darnold. After his solid rookie campaign of 788 receiving yards, Moore has gone on to haul in 3,525 more yards since 2019—the fifth-most in the league over that span.
We might also be inclined to table the great wideout debate of 2018 between Moore and Calvin Ridley, who was drafted as the second receiver just two slots after DJ. You can bet, because Ridley may not be able to, that the Panthers are pretty happy with their decision.
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