by The Panthers moved on from coach Matt Rhule on Monday and it may not be long before they move on from other big names. With an overhaul underway, other teams are already sniffing around Carolina to inquire about the availability of veterans like Christian McCaffrey and Brian Burns, according to CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones. Another potential target: No. 1 receiver DJ Moore, who is hinted at the frustrations playing in the Panthers offense.
Moore, 25, just this summer signed a three-year, $61.8 million contract extension that ties him to Carolina through 2025. For that reason, he’s much more unlikely to be moved than, say, , McCaffrey, who plays a less premium position and has a more extensive injury history. But that also means Moore is better compensated, which could make him an attractive trade chip for an organization admittedly desperate for a solution at quarterback.
In the wake of a frenzied receiver market that saw Pro Bowlers like Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams and AJ Brown traded for multiple draft picks, it’s possible Moore could be next on the market. If so, here are five logical landing spots:
What they really need is help up front, where Matthew Stafford gets poor coverage. However, the addition of wide receiver Allen Robinson was almost a no-brainer, also leaving Stafford looking solely in the direction of Cooper Kupp and Tyler Higbee. General manager Les Snead is perpetually in win-now mode and is on the verge of an emergency in LA after an ugly 2-3 start. Maybe, if they’re lucky, they can find a way to unload Robinson and his salary as part of a trade.
If not now, when? That’s certainly what Aaron Rodgers is thinking about the Packers’ chance to land him a bona fide No. 1 pick for his final run. Green Bay has felt the effects of DaVante Adams’ departure during their sluggish 3-2 start, and it doesn’t look like Moore is a hire to regret later. He would immediately make the rest of the receiving corps better, shifting them up the depth chart and giving Matt LaFleur a Pro Bowl-caliber weapon with or without Rodgers on the way.
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Brian Daboll is making the most of New York’s mid-level talent, but imagine if Daniel Jones actually had a legitimate Wideout at his disposal. With Kenny Golladay down low, Kadarius Toney and Sterling Shepard consistently hitting high, and Richie James stepping 9 feet on mistakes, Moore would be an immediate and significant upgrade at the position. New GM Joe Schoen would give a surprise prospect a big boost at a premium position, but he could also be confident that Moore would be a long-term building block regardless of how things pan out at QB and elsewhere after 2022.
As long as Patrick Mahomes is under center, they’ll be contenders, and Travis Kelce remains the unofficial No. 1 tight end. But if they intend to match up with a juggernaut like the Bills, they could use a more complete starter on the outside, pushing JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling into the secondary roles they deserve. Yes, the Chiefs’ biggest move of the year was the Tyreek Hill trade, but Moore is both younger and cheaper. GM Brett Veach said he’s always exploring ways to better support Mahomes, and this would do just that. They still have additional options to avoid the Hill trade.
Lamar Jackson can save games with his legs, but it’s time for Baltimore to invest in a true No. 1 receiver — at least since he granted Marquise Brown’s offseason wish to go elsewhere. Both Devin Duvernay and Rashod Bateman have flashed this year, but Moore would give Jackson a fully realized version of his current goals, not just now but for years to come. The more talent out there, the less pressure to dominate Baltimore’s game. As a bonus, Moore is very familiar with the area, playing his college ball in Maryland after being born and raised in Philadelphia.
