DJ Moore + Joe Brady: What Their Carolina Reunion Means in Buffalo

DJ Moore going to Buffalo is one of my favorite receiver changes of the offseason.

Not simply because he gets Josh Allen.

That obviously helps.

What makes the situation even more interesting is the coach.

DJ Moore and Joe Brady have already done this before.

Go Back to Carolina

Joe Brady was Carolina's offensive coordinator in 2020 and 2021.

DJ Moore's numbers:

2020

66 receptions

1,193 receiving yards

4 touchdowns

He averaged an absurd 18.1 yards per reception.

2021

93 receptions

1,157 receiving yards

4 touchdowns

That's two straight 1,100-yard seasons with Brady coordinating the offense.

That matters.

The Two Seasons Were Actually Different

This is one of the coolest parts of the history.

In 2020, Moore was more explosive.

His average depth of target was significantly higher and he produced 1,193 yards on only 66 catches.

In 2021, his volume exploded.

He saw 163 targets and caught 93 passes.

So Brady has already used Moore successfully in more than one way.

That's much more interesting than saying:

"They were together once."

We've seen different versions of the role work.

Now Upgrade the Quarterback

This is where the reunion gets really interesting.

Those Carolina seasons did not come with Josh Allen throwing the football.

Now they do.

Buffalo traded a second-round pick to acquire Moore.

That's meaningful investment.

Teams don't normally spend that kind of capital on a receiver they plan to hide in the offense.

Joe Brady Is Different Now Too

Brady isn't Carolina's young offensive coordinator anymore.

He's now Buffalo's head coach.

Moore has already talked about noticing the difference in Brady's role and leadership.

But the familiarity remains.

The terminology may have evolved.

The offense is different.

The quarterback is much better.

But Brady already knows what Moore does well.

Why Moore Fits Allen

Moore's game gives Buffalo several ways to use him.

He can:

• Win intermediate routes • Create yards after catch • Work crossers • Win downfield • Move around the formation • Handle legitimate target volume

That's valuable with Allen because defenses already have enough to worry about.

They can't build the entire coverage around Moore.

The Target Competition Is Real

I'm not ignoring Buffalo's other options.

There are other receivers.

Dalton Kincaid needs targets.

The backs are involved.

This isn't a situation where Moore automatically gets 160 targets because that's what happened in Carolina in 2021.

But again, ESPN isn't pricing him like a 160-target receiver.

Why WR26 Is Interesting

ESPN currently has Moore:

52 overall

WR26

That's around Round 5/6 in a 10-team league.

That's one of my favorite sections of the draft for receiver upside.

I don't need Moore to be my WR1.

If I start with Chase, Puka, JSN, Amon-Ra or CeeDee, Moore can become my WR2.

That's a very different bet.

Familiar Coach + Better QB

This is the core of the article for me.

Coach reunions are interesting when we have evidence.

We have it.

Moore already produced consecutive 1,100-yard seasons with Brady.

Now the quarterback is Josh Allen.

That doesn't guarantee career highs.

But if I'm comparing two similarly priced receivers and one has:

• Proven NFL production • A coach who already used him successfully • A major quarterback upgrade • Significant trade investment from his new team

I'm interested.

Where I Would Draft DJ Moore

ESPN: 52 overall, WR26

I like him:

Around Round 5 or Round 6.

I don't need to reach into Round 3.

That's not the point.

The appeal is getting Moore after I've already built the core of my team.

If he becomes one of Allen's primary targets, WR26 is going to look cheap.

And unlike a lot of coaching projections, we don't have to guess whether Joe Brady knows how to use DJ Moore.

We've already watched him do it.