D. J. Moore (wide receiver)
Denniston Oliver "D. J." Moore Jr. (born April 14, 1997) is an American football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Maryland and was drafted by the Panthers in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Early years. Moore attended Imhotep Institute Charter High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he played high school football for Imhotep Charter. He committed to the University of Maryland, College Park to play college football. College career. Moore played at Maryland from 2015 to 2017 under head coaches Randy  Edsall, Mike Locksley, and D. J. Durkin. As a freshman, he started 10 of 12 games, recording 25 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns. As a sophomore, he started all 13 games and had 41 receptions for 637 yards and six touchdowns. As a junior, he started all 12 games and set a school record with 80 receptions for 1,033 yards and eight touchdowns. After his junior season, Moore was named to the First Team All-Big-Ten, and was the Big Ten Receiver of the Year. After the season, Moore made the decision to enter the 2018 NFL  Draft. Professional career. Moore was invited to the 2018 NFL combine, where he led receivers in the broad jump, and recorded the second best vertical jump. He also ran a 4.43 second 40-yard dash. Carolina Panthers. 2018. Moore was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the first round with the 24th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. On June 18, 2018, he signed a four-year deal worth $11.2 million featuring a $6.2 million signing bonus. He made his NFL debut in the Panthers' season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. In the 16–8 victory, he had  no targets but did have a three-yard rush to go along with a 15-yard punt return. In the following game, a 31–24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, he recorded a 51-yard touchdown reception for his first professional catch. In a Week 11 loss to the Detroit Lions, Moore had a breakout game with seven receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown. Overall, he finished his rookie season with 55 receptions for 788 yards and two touchdowns. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, becoming the second Panthers receiver to claim this award, joining Rae Carruth  in 1997. 2019. In Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals, Moore caught one pass for a 52-yard touchdown in the 38–20 win. In Week 10 against the Green Bay Packers, Moore caught nine passes for 120 yards in the 24–16 loss. During Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints, Moore finished with six catches for 126 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns as the Panthers lost 31–34. Overall, in the 2019 season, Moore finished with 87 receptions for 1,175 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. 2020. In Week 2, Moore recorded eight receptions for 120 receiving yards in a  17–31 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons, Moore recorded four catches for 93 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown reception, during the 23–16 win. In Week 7, he had four receptions for 93 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 27–24 loss to the New Orleans Saints. In Week 11 against the Detroit Lions, Moore recorded seven catches for 127 yards during the 20–0 win. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Panthers on December 7, 2020, and activated on December 16. In Week 15 against the Green Bay  Packers, Moore recorded 6 catches for 131 yards during the 24–16 loss. 2021. On April 30, 2021, the Panthers exercised the fifth-year option on Moore's contract. The option guarantees a salary of $11.116 million for the 2022 season. 2022. On March 18, 2022, Moore signed a three-year, $61.9 million contract extension with the Panthers through the 2025 season.