PFF gives Bears WR unique distinction ahead of 2024 regular season originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
Most people who follow the NFL are at the top Bears‘ wide receiver room this season. But Pro Football Focus has received praise from DJ Moore, Keenan Allen It is Roma Odunze to a new level.
In a column published last week, Sam Monson argued that all three Bears wideouts are among the 32 best in the league. In other words, all three are worthy of being called WR1.
Monson has Moore leading at No. 12 on his list. That’s right behind Stefon Diggs and Puka Nacua.
“Justin Fields wasn’t seeing the game well early in the year, and despite that, DJ Moore was still able to rack up 1,364 yards at 2.31 yards per route,” Monson wrote. “He has proven to be an exceptionally effective all-area receiver, regardless of quarterback, during his career.”
Moore has been one of the league’s most consistent wide receivers since the Panthers drafted him in the first round of the 2018 season. He had the best season of his career last year — his first with the Bears.
Next up for the Bears is Keenan Allen, who sits between Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jaylen Waddle at No. 22.
“Keenan Allen scored 97 targets in his best seven games last season for the Chargers and racked up 1,243 yards in just 13 games. He was moved because of a bloated contract for which he refused to take a pay cut, but now he brings one of the best route running arsenals to Chicago to help rookie Caleb Williams.
Allen turned 32 last month, but his ability to run routes should help him remain effective at his “advanced” age. Allen has relied on precision and technique rather than blazing speed throughout his career, so there must be concerns about him missing a step in Chicago.
Finally, Odunze completes the group in 29th place on the PFF list. That puts him between Michael Pittman Jr. and George Pickens
“Rome Odunze would have been the first receiver drafted in most normal years, but he was third off the board in this loaded draft class. Odunze brings to the table an athletic profile that can overpower NFL-caliber athletes and is especially good at winning contested receptions.
Although Odunze was the third wide receiver off the board in the draft, few pass catchers in his class have been able to match his 2023 production. Among WRs with 100 targets, Odunze ranked first in yards (1,639), first downs (74) , contested receptions (21) and contested catch rate (75%). His average depth of target of 15.5 yards ranked second, his 13 TDs ranked tied for fourth, and his drop rate of 3.2% ranked sixth in the nation.
The Bears are the only team with three wide receivers in PFF’s top 32. The 49ers (Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk), Rams (Cooper Kupp, Nacua), Texans (Diggs, Nico Collins), Eagles (AJ Brown, Devonta Smith), Dolphins (Tyreek Hill, Waddle), Buccaneers (Mike Evans, Chris Godwin ), Bengals (Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins) were the teams with two WRs on the roster.
With so many pass-catching threats against the Bears, Moore said it will be a “1,000-yard rush.” Odunze also embraced the competitive spirit.
“What I want in a wide receiver room is for everyone to think they are Wide Receiver 1,” Odunze said before the first day of rookie minicamp. “That’s the mentality I bring to the room and it’s friendly competition.”
That being said, don’t expect drama at Halas Hall if one wide receiver overtakes the others this year. None of the Bears pass catchers would be described as a “diva” like some others who play that position around the league.
“At the end of the day, I want what’s best for the brotherhood around me,” Odunze said. “I’m going to go through all the paths and do all the concepts perfectly, even if I’m the main reading or they’re the main reading, because I think that’s what it’s about when the sisterhood is in the room.”
