One prospect who may interest the Denver Broncos in the second-round of the 2018 NFL Draft is former Maryland wide receiver, D.J. Moore. He is a 6’0”, 210lb wide receiver who is considered one of the top wide receiving prospects in the entire draft. Moore is ranked as the second-best wide receiver in the 2018 NFL Draft according to NFLDraftScout.com and is ranked as the 29th overall prospect in the entire draft.
Moore played three seasons at Maryland and is coming off a breakout year for them. During his three-year career, Moore totaled 146 receptions for 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns. This past year, he totaled 80 receptions for 1,033 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Another D.J. Moore clip. Reduced split to the wide side, going to do the CB dirty with an out and up, and high point the ball! #NFLDraft #DraftTwitter pic.twitter.com/ItXFWrbrUs
— Bradley Ylitalo (@NFL_drafthub) January 18, 2018
D.J. Moore’s 2017 awards and honors include being named the 2017 Big Ten Receiver of the Year, 2017 First Team All-Big Ten team, 2017 Phil Steele Second Team All-American, 2017 Associated Press First Team All-Big Ten, 2017 Athlon Sports First Team All-Big Ten, Rated the top wide receiver in the Big Ten according to Pro Football Focus, 2017 First Team All-ECAC, and 2017 Biletnikoff Award Watch List.
D.J. Moore, Junior, Maryland
Height: 6’0”, Weight: 210lbs 40 time: 4.42 seconds
Arm Length: 31 5/8” Hands: 9 5/8”
Bench Press: 12 reps Vertical Jump: 39.5 inches Broad Jump: 132.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: 6.95 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.07 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: 11.18 seconds
Film Room:
Scouting Report:
Strengths:
- Well built and has a thick build
- Good blend of speed and quickness
- Gets up to speed quickly
- Strong player who is built like a running back
- Was hard to bring down after the catch in college
- Racked up the YAC
- Accelerates quickly and gains separation on corners
- Dangerous in space
- Is a good run blocker for a receiver
- Has punt return ability
- Durable player
- Team captain and well liked
Weaknesses:
- Likely a slot receiver in the NFL
- Didn’t run a complicated route tree in college
- Does have some minor issues with drops
- His height limitations are an issue at times
Quotable:
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah on D.J. Moore who he has ranked as his 37th overall player in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Moore is a thick, muscled-up wideout with outstanding toughness, burst and savvy. He lines up both outside and in the slot for the Terrapins. He powers through press coverage and understands how to set up defenders before snapping off his route. He collects a lot of quick hitters in this offense, but he flashes the ability to work down the seam as well as over the top. He tracks the ball naturally. He can adjust and finish on poor throws. He’s at his best after the catch. Moore routinely breaks tackles, makes defenders miss or runs away from them. His competitiveness is off the charts. I won’t be surprised if Moore ends up being the best receiver in this draft class.
NFLDraftScout’s Dane Brugler on wide receiver D.J. Moore from his draft guide.
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Maryland, Moore inherited the No. 1 jersey from Stefon Diggs and developed into the “X” receiver in the offense, primarily lining up on the left side of the formation. He has impressive college production considering the constant quarterback issues for the Terrapins, catching a pass from eight different quarterbacks the last three years – set a school-record with 80 catches in 2017 and became just the third player in program history to eclipse 1,000-yards receiving in a season (first since Torrey Smith in 2010). A balanced, explosive athlete, Moore is a tough ask for any cornerback in coverage, considering his route speed to stretch the field and YAC skills to take simple underneath targets and turn them into big plays. His catch radius is average, but he plays bigger than he looks and his football character and work ethic, especially in the weight room, are universally praised. Overall, Moore has a dynamic NFL skill-set with his speed, physical presence and instincts and his film gives off a Steve Smith vibe.
Wide receiver D.J. Moore’s spider graph:
Does wide receiver D.J. Moore make sense for the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft?:
If Moore somehow makes it to the 40th pick in the draft, then yes.
His draft stock is anywhere from the mid to late first round to the early second round. Odds are that he will be long gone by the time the Broncos pick, but if he is there or close to pick 40, the Broncos should seriously consider him. He would instantly slide into the slot position and give the Broncos a much needed third option for Case Keenum.
Obviously, this pick all depends on how they feel about 2017 third-round pick Carlos Henderson. He was out of shape last year, suffered an injury, and had a marijuana-related arrest, so it is hard to count on him going forward. If they feel good about him they will not take a receiver early in the draft. If they do not, expect another receiver in the first three rounds of the draft.
Moore’s YAC and big-play ability really intrigue me. He runs like a running back and college defensive backs would often just bounce right of him. Add in the fact that Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are getting older and nearing the end of their time with the Broncos, and you can see why they need a receiver.
This pick is unlikely and Moore is one of “my guys”, but if he somehow falls to 40, I would love this pick for the Broncos.