D.J. Moore’s endorsement of Justin Fields over top QB…

D.J. Moore’s endorsement of Justin Fields over top QB draft prospects is a case of being a good teammate, not QB evaluator

D.J. Moore is one of the NFL’s finest playmakers.

He’s got sticky hands, is an explosive monster after the catch, and seldom wastes any space or time when running routes. That reality potentially makes what he has to say about his quarterback that much more meaningful, like how he talked up Justin Fields after the Chicago Bears’ heartbreaking loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

When asked about the Bears’ upcoming quarterback-of-the-future decision — Chicago currently owns the No. 1 overall draft pick via the Carolina Panthers — Moore was indignant. He almost couldn’t believe people were talking about names like Southern California’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye playing for the Bears when they already had Fields.

Moore took his position so far that he even said none of the top prospects were better than his current quarterback. Eh, I don’t think there’s as much to this sentiment as anyone still holding onto hope with Fields wants to believe:

DJ Moore on the Bears QB discussion heading into next season.

"I don't think (Caleb Williams & Drake Maye) are better than Justin." pic.twitter.com/In3BI1x0Jz

— Marquee Bears (@BearsMarquee) December 17, 2023

For one, Moore isn’t going to throw Fields under the bus while he’s still teammates with him and while the Bears are still playing out the string on the 2023 season. Moore also assuredly knows it’d be a massive story if he endorsed a new quarterback over Fields in public, with the internal drama not being remotely worth the risk for the hapless Bears.

Right now, the Bears are staring down the barrel of another lost and empty season. Fields shows unique flashes of brilliance every week but ultimately hasn’t played consistently well enough to justify giving him a fourth season on the Chicago lakefront without a reasonable debate. It’s not an obvious call in his favor in the least. To be clear, Fields, who is only 24 years old, still might possess a solid modicum of potential. But if the Bears do finish with the 2024 draft’s top pick, they have to seriously consider moving on by drafting a much more malleable and potentially more promising young quarterback.

Kudos to Moore for standing up for Fields. That’s what he’s supposed to say. But even if the Bears do stick with Fields in 2024, Moore’s comments will have zero impact on their decision.

This was how Twitter reacted to Moore's endorsement of Fields

When Caleb walks into Halas Hall in May for the first time https://t.co/yIurtFZVUV pic.twitter.com/StCvzbqsky

— FullCountTommy (@FullCountTommy) December 17, 2023

This is gonna get replayed endlessly when he catches his first TD pass from one of them next year https://t.co/XyxTDdoaut

— Michael Walton II (@ZenMasterMike) December 17, 2023

DJ Moore is the man. https://t.co/RR6CRR4muT

— John Stocco (@fakeJohnStocco) December 17, 2023

Drake Maye and Caleb Williams are not better than Justin Fields. Ryan Poles better not do anything stupid https://t.co/cYX7jZRrgW

— Rajeev Tiwari (@JeevyJeev) December 18, 2023

Gunna be awkward when Caleb Williams walks through the door next year https://t.co/JLrBuMoO2M

— Mike Hynes (@Mhynes1588) December 18, 2023

Bears don’t make this harder than it need to be to. Keep Justin, Draft Marvin Harrison Jr. It’s simple https://t.co/b1UFakw2AW

— Rdubb🚀 (@Mr_FG20) December 17, 2023