As receiver DJ Moore begins his second season in Chicago, excitement is building about the team's new offensive scheme and new set of playmakers.
Between free agency and the draft, the Bears acquired quarterback Caleb Williams, receivers Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, running back D'Andre Swift and tight end Gerald Everett to pair with Moore – who has recorded 1,000 yards in four of his six NFL seasons – and other returning offensive weapons such as tight end Cole Kmet, running back Khalil Herbert and receiver Tyler Scott.
Moore feels the depth within the receiver room can create healthy competition within the group.
"You got Keenan, Rome, you got Velus [Jones Jr.], you got Tyler," Moore said. "You got endless playmakers in there. It's probably going to be a race to 1,000 [yards] now. I don't know who's going to get there first, but it's going to be a race."
While that plethora of pass catchers plays a role in that race, Moore also views new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron's scheme as a major contributor.
"I love it," Moore said of Waldron's offense. "Everybody can touch the ball. It's complex, but you know there's going to be detail in what you've got to do, so you've really got to study."
Moore admittedly "turn[s] everything into a competition," including debating the fastest receiver on the team, but he believes the team feeds off that mindset and the competitive nature the players share allows them to build chemistry. The veteran receiver has a pivotal role in creating that chemistry, particularly with rookies on the offensive side of the ball, and says that starts with being present at voluntary OTAs, which started this week at Halas Hall.
"You've got to get that connection down with Caleb and with everybody, even Rome and the whole room," Moore said. "The whole offense just wants to be around each other and build that bond, the relationships that we had last year, and form it with new people."
Take a look at the Bears hitting the Halas Hall practice fields during the first week of Organized Team Activities.
![QB Caleb Williams](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/br0efmewi5d0ymxuzecj.jpg)
QB Caleb Williams
![DB Jaylon Johnson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/b9zvnkki2oh8b8uqywkv.jpg)
DB Jaylon Johnson
![DB Jaquan Brisker](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/etzs4nztmobwuqfxcxsl.jpg)
DB Jaquan Brisker
![WR DJ Moore](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/dud03o7jqsksr7q9rwby.jpg)
WR DJ Moore
![TE Gerald Everett](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/vym1hrsuesrptvsi15zb.jpg)
TE Gerald Everett
![TE Cole Kmet](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/nfwrcdathffcwccztpmq.jpg)
TE Cole Kmet
![TE Gerald Everett](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/yoege0bnioupltfrqwom.jpg)
TE Gerald Everett
![LB Tremaine Edmunds](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/gx8aeotbcdq2gok0racu.jpg)
LB Tremaine Edmunds
![DB Kevin Byard III](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/u1d4pxowxcytkdinkcv2.jpg)
DB Kevin Byard III
![DL Austin Booker](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/vxsvoor5pv8eovd0slxq.jpg)
DL Austin Booker
![DL DeMarcus Walker](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/znq0z1cjmmanbgmcepax.jpg)
DL DeMarcus Walker
![DB Jaylon Johnson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/xu8uz0tzndelk2n80vbs.jpg)
DB Jaylon Johnson
![DB Kyler Gordon](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/p7qdjq9f9p9jnsgxzuot.jpg)
DB Kyler Gordon
![DL Gervon Dexter Sr.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/iljihmd1d9ikpm3a9jgr.jpg)
DL Gervon Dexter Sr.
![DL Byron Cowart](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/nskpdstzwwryf9ttmqba.jpg)
DL Byron Cowart
![Head coach Matt Eberflus](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/uyy1omek5b8rxlcyhwfc.jpg)
Head coach Matt Eberflus
![OL Matt Pryor](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/zh2jrms6zsmtby9ihkhn.jpg)
OL Matt Pryor
![LB Jack Sanborn](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/qqe6lbc2n4hicdag4n93.jpg)
LB Jack Sanborn
![LB Noah Sewell](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/axhdv6toddoql0nithdk.jpg)
LB Noah Sewell
![DL Jamree Kromah](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/gckxz3iwp0w2qq34d0p4.jpg)
DL Jamree Kromah
![DL Jacob Martin](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/kjaclxdvrmv0ofhzz6as.jpg)
DL Jacob Martin
![DB Tyrique Stevenson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/u25gwc85utk5kdcbp060.jpg)
DB Tyrique Stevenson
![DB Kyler Gordon](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/euwosqnqj1qpdh6blpip.jpg)
DB Kyler Gordon
![TE Gerald Everett](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/it9glsff9ormv6xvhie2.jpg)
TE Gerald Everett
![WR DJ Moore, RB D'Andre Swift](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/jq0619ulpcysuwfnzj63.jpg)
WR DJ Moore, RB D'Andre Swift
![DL Keith Randolph Jr.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/js5hzwl1tkwlwuujkiu1.jpg)
DL Keith Randolph Jr.
![DB Adrian Colbert](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/b9rrrl2cap8yspxcncwj.jpg)
DB Adrian Colbert
![WR DJ Moore](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/yrvwy1urecbwmof1bjyv.jpg)
WR DJ Moore
![RB D'Andre Swift](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/kcrzpnyf7ybaca4zas1x.jpg)
RB D'Andre Swift
![DB Quindell Johnson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/d9qmhlused99dgo6gfrr.jpg)
DB Quindell Johnson
![LB T.J. Edwards](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/clprh6syccu2h0ymrbn4.jpg)
LB T.J. Edwards
![RB Khalil Herbert](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/mumjxzrswsdzgphbbxng.jpg)
RB Khalil Herbert
![OL Ryan Bates](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/ip4gb3xz45bw6ajvvjbr.jpg)
OL Ryan Bates
![DB Tyrique Stevenson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/iouo5g5u8lyyylkaoowi.jpg)
DB Tyrique Stevenson
![DB Jonathan Owens](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/ayrqprft9detagtlrivw.jpg)
DB Jonathan Owens
![DL Dashaun Mallory](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/q0qd2lwhj0arvykvzzpk.jpg)
DL Dashaun Mallory
![DL Jacob Martin](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/nxviqxlstu2i3fnddgqv.jpg)
DL Jacob Martin
![DB Kyler Gordon](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/ksijahcupga3m0juszzv.jpg)
DB Kyler Gordon
Moore has worked closely with Odunze since the Washington product was drafted No. 9 overall. He's been impressed with the rookie's speed and the smoothness of his movement, and noticed Odunze's desire to learn from veterans like himself and Allen, which has allowed the trio to bounce ideas and route concepts off each other.
As far as Williams' integration into the Bears offense, Moore said the team is "going to ride" for the USC product. While Moore understands there will be growing pains as the entire unit learns a new system and creates individual connections with Williams, he's already excited about the No. 1 pick's abilities on the field and in the locker room.
"You can see that the natural leadership is there, the natural arm talent is there," Moore said. "Everything about him, it's just always a positive thing. Even when he has a bad play, he's looking to learn real fast right after. That's all you can ask of him, for him to quickly forget but also learn at the same time."
As the offense continues to evolve throughout the offseason program and into training camp, coach Matt Eberflus will be looking to the returning players to help move that process along. The third-year coach sees Moore's leadership as a key piece in bringing the unit together.
"Our best player[s have] got to be our hardest workers and they've gotta be our best finishers and they've gotta be available to practice out there, and DJ certainly is that," Eberflus said. "He's as tough as they come and he is a great teammate and he is our hardest worker and one of our most talented guys. That's the example all of the young guys follow because No. 1, the talent, but then they see the work ethic.
"That's what I always tell, even like Keenan, DJ, Tremaine [Edmunds], Tez (Montez Sweat), all the guys that are really good players in this league, they have to be our hardest workers. They've gotta be the guys that are the example."