The Buffalo Bills just went out and got veteran wide receiver DJ Moore from the Bears this March, and second-year cornerback Maxwell Hairston is already salivating for the practice reps. He heard the news and immediately thought, "Oh, those reps are going to be good." That's the kind of energy Buffalo is banking on, bringing in a guy who's supposed to be the new lead dog for their receiving corps.
"Iron Sharpening Iron" Is Back For Buffalo
Hairston's excitement is a direct echo of what went down in 2020 when Stefon Diggs landed in Buffalo. Back then, cornerback Tre’Davious White was pumped about what Diggs would do for the offense and for him in practice. Those two were emerging stars, pushing each other daily. Hairston sees the same thing with Moore, calling it "iron sharpening iron." He knows he can get better from DJ, and DJ can get better from him. Moore might be a little further along in his career than Diggs was upon arrival, but the expectation is still massive impact. With all due respect to Khalil Shakir, Moore is now Buffalo's top receiver, just like Diggs immediately became the best wideout on the team back in the day. Nobody's asking Moore, heading into his age 29 season, to put up Diggs' absurd numbers of 445 catches for 5,372 yards and 37 touchdowns in four seasons. But asking him to lead this receiving room? That's perfectly reasonable.From Chicago Struggles To Buffalo's Main Man
Moore's journey to this moment has been wild. After five strong seasons with the Panthers, where he hauled in 364 passes for 5,201 yards and 21 scores, he exploded for two great years in 2023 and 2024 with the Bears, pulling in 194 catches for 2,330 yards and 14 touchdowns. Then 2025 hit. He posted career lows with 50 receptions and 682 yards. Part of that was Bears quarterback Caleb Williams struggling with accuracy, hitting just 58.1% of his passes. Moore also saw targets and playing time go to young receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, plus tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. But don't let that dip fool you: Moore proved he's still clutch, catching the game-winning 25-yard pass with 1:43 left in Chicago's 31-27 wild-card comeback victory over the Packers. Bills coach Joe Brady and backup quarterback Kyle Allen, who both knew Moore from Carolina, are already hyped. Allen said Moore "looks the same" at the start of the offseason. Brady loves Moore's demeanor, his approach, his leadership. He's out there, practicing, pushing through, leading the room. That leadership in the room is huge, but just like with Diggs, Moore has to lead with his performance on the field. Josh Allen has been desperate for a reliable downfield threat on the outside since Diggs left after the 2023 season. This upcoming season, it's all about Moore proving he's that guy. Can he bring that clutch factor consistently and become the reliable go-to target Allen needs? We're about to find out.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.