PFF gives Bears WR room unique award ahead of 2024 regular season originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Most people who follow the NFL are high on the Bears’ receiver room this season. But Pro Football Focus has taken their praise for DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze to a new level.
In a column published last week, Sam Monson argued that all three of the Bears’ wideouts are among the league’s top-32. In other words, all three are worthy of being called a WR1.
Monson has Moore ahead at No. 12 on his list. That’s right behind Stefon Diggs and Puka Nacua.
“Justin Fields didn’t see the game very well at all early in the year, and despite that, DJ Moore was still able to gain 1,364 yards on 2.31 yards per route,” Monson wrote. “He has proven throughout his career to be an exceptionally effective receiver in all areas, regardless of quarterback.”
Moore has been one of the most consistent wide receivers in the league since the Panthers drafted him in the first round of the 2018 season. Last year he had the best season of his career: his first with the Bears.
Next up for the Bears is Keenan Allen, who plays between Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jaylen Waddle is at number 22.
“Keenan Allen had 97 targets in his top seven games for the Chargers last season and gained 1,243 yards in just 13 games. He was moved due to a bloated contract where 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 should help him remain effective at his ‘advanced’ age. Allen has relied on precision and technique rather than lightning speed throughout his career, so there should be concerns about him losing a step in Chicago.
Finally, Odunze rounds out the group at No. 29 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 was third off the board in this loaded draft class. Odunze brings an athletic profile that can dominate athletes at the NFL level and is especially good at winning contested catches.
Although Odunze was the third wide receiver off the board in the draft, few pass catchers in his class could match his 2023 output. Among WRs with 100 targets, Odunze ranked first in yards (1,639), first downs (74), contested catches (21) and contested catch rate (75%). His average target depth of 50 feet ranked second, his 13 TDs ranked fourth and his 3.2% drop rate ranked sixth in the nation.
The Bears are the only team with three wide receivers ranked 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 team with two WRs on the roster.
With so many pass-catching threats facing the Bears, Moore has said it will be a “race to 1,000 yards.” Odunze has also embraced the competitive spirit.
“What I want in a wide receiver room is for everyone to think he’s Wide Receiver 1,” Odunze said before the first day of rookie minicamp. “That’s the mentality I bring to the room and it’s a friendly competition.”
That said, no drama is expected in Halas Hall if one wide receiver outranks the other this year. None of the Bears’ pass catchers would be described as a “diva” like some others who play the position around the league.
“At the end of the day, I want the best for the brotherhood next to me,” Odunze said. “I’m going to go through every route and execute every concept to perfection, even if I’m the lead reader or they’re the lead reader, because I think that’s what it’s about when the brotherhood is in the room.”
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