Joe Brady, the first-year Buffalo Bills head coach, speaking at the Annual League Meeting on Saturday, pushed back firmly against the narrative that DJ Moore’s career-worst season in Chicago signals that the player is past his prime.
Buffalo acquired Moore and a fifth-round pick from the Bears for the No. 60 overall selection, betting that Brady’s familiarity with the receiver will unlock what Ben Johnson’s offense could not.
Joe Brady Sees the Same DJ Moore He Coached in Carolina
Moore posted just 50 catches for 682 yards in 2025, both career lows despite playing all 17 games. The numbers fed a growing perception that the 28-year-old was fading. However, Brady isn’t buying it.
“You try not to go into it and be like, ‘Hey, I remember what the player was and let’s just do it.’ It’s natural in football,” Brady said. “Five years is a long time. But the player that I turned on the tape wasn’t any different in terms of the way that he moved, the skill set, the opportunity, the big plays, using him in a bunch of different ways. I saw that, and I didn’t see a guy that has had any drop-off.”
“I saw a guy that there’s a clear vision for how we’re going to utilize him and get the ball in his hands,” Brady added. “I know him and Josh, there’s been a lot of work this offseason getting them on the same page, but I’m really excited about where that’s gonna go.”
Brady served as Moore’s offensive coordinator in Carolina from 2020 through his December 2021 firing. That stretch produced the most productive seasons of Moore’s career, including 1,193 yards and a career-high 18.1 yards per catch in 2020. He believes the connection remains intact.
“I know the person, the player, the skill set,” Brady said of Moore. “I know we had a really good offense last year. Adding DJ to it should only make Josh’s life a lot easier and make Khalil Shakir’s life a lot easier. He’s dynamic, and he’s going to make our team a lot better.”
Here’s how Moore ranked among receivers in the league over the last three seasons based on PFSN’s WR Impact Metric:
- 2023: 7th with an impact score of 89.6 and a B+ grade.
- 2024: 25th with an impact score of 81.0 and a B- grade.
- 2025: 73rd with an impact score of 71.6 and a C- grade.
How Moore Changes the Calculus for Josh Allen’s Supporting Cast
The ripple effects extend beyond Moore’s individual production. Buffalo’s wide receivers generated just 2,107 yards in 2025, the ninth-fewest in the league. Khalil Shakir led the group with 719 yards, while Keon Coleman managed only 404 on 59 targets.
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Moore’s arrival as an outside threat allows Shakir to operate primarily from the slot, where he led the NFL with 173 yards on screen passes last season. Coleman, meanwhile, no longer carries the burden of developing into a top target immediately. He can grow behind a proven veteran rather than being thrust into a role he wasn’t ready to handle.
James Cook won the rushing title with 1,621 yards, giving Buffalo the league’s top ground game. Adding a legitimate perimeter weapon should open running lanes that didn’t exist when defenses stacked the box against an underwhelming receiving corps.
Sean McDermott’s firing after the Divisional Round loss to Denver created the opening for Brady to reshape this offense in his image. Moore represents the first major piece of that reconstruction.
Whether the reunion produces the results Buffalo needs will determine if Brady’s five-year tenure outlasts the skepticism surrounding both coach and receiver.
