ORCHARD PARK – The Josh Allen and DJ Moore reunion that is taking place this week during the start of the OTA portion of the Buffalo Bills’ offseason is one that is nearly eight years in the making.
Back in 2018, Allen was the seventh overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Bills while Moore went 17 picks later at No. 24 to the Carolina Panthers.
Allen’s only professional address has been One Bills Drive, and now, after five years in Carolina and three in Chicago, Moore has joined his draft classmate after president/general manager Brandon Beane acquired him in a trade that included Buffalo’s 2026 second-round pick.
“We go actually way back,” Allen said of his relationship with Moore. “We sat next to each other at the Rookie Premiere, signing Panini cards and autograph cards. I don’t know if anybody’s talked about that whole situation, but you sit there for legit eight hours just signing your life away, and so getting some good conversations back then, it’s pretty cool to have him here now.”
Obviously, Allen and Moore didn’t have many opportunities to build on that early interaction, but that has changed now that Moore is in Buffalo and is expected to be the true No. 1 receiver Allen and the Bills have lacked since Stefon Diggs left town after 2023.
This week marked the first time they’ve practiced together and these are the first steps toward developing the chemistry that will hopefully make them a lethal tandem in 2026.
How Josh Allen and DJ Moore are building chemistry
“You’re able to do more to see what works and what doesn’t,” Allen said. “Obviously we go out there, if we make mistakes, which is going to happen, chalk it up to the first couple days of OTA, and be like, ‘Hey, we like this, we don’t like this,’ and just again, continuing to work on it, and find ways that we can learn how to complement each other and build that chemistry and camaraderie.”
Like Diggs, who was also acquired in a notable trade that cost the Bills a first-round draft pick in 2020, Moore brings an impressive resume to Buffalo. Across eight seasons he has 608 receptions for 8,213 yards and 41 touchdowns. He is far and away the best and most accomplished receiver the Bills have had since Diggs departed.
In these early days, Allen and Moore will learn each other’s tendencies such as how does Moore run a certain route, and where does Allen expect him to be.
“I mean, some of the cuts that he makes with the ball in his hands already, and we don’t have pads on, but he’s able to contort his body in different ways that I don’t think I’ve ever seen, and he’s not a small guy,” Allen said. “So it’s been pretty fun to watch. He’s super smooth, he’s faster than you think, and he just kind of glides on people. So just trying to learn as much as I can and making sure we get on the same page because he’s very fun to throw to.”
What makes DJ Moore a key piece for the Buffalo Bills
Laying down the foundation is critical in these spring practices because once the Bills open training camp at St. John Fisher University, the goal will be for Moore to be fully ingrained into the offense.
“I think there’s some components of (Allen) trying to get a feel of the timing of the routes, the speed in which (Moore) comes out of some of the breaks,” head coach Joe Brady said. “And the only way you can get that chemistry is by working at it at a full-speed level, not necessarily just routes on air.
“I think a lot of times we take for granted, like we think guys can just come in here and pitch and catch. But there’s nuances to running routes, there’s nuances to how they speak to you. And so this is the time of year that we kind of do that.”
The addition of Moore and the selection of Skyler Bell in the fourth round of the draft has deepened the wide receiver room. Moore and Khalil Shakir are the clear-cut top two, and then there will be a spirited battle for what will probably be the other three game day jerseys between Bell, Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman, Trent Sherfield and maybe even Mecole Hardman.
“I think everyone’s going to play their part, obviously,” Allen said. “Certain guys are better at certain things, just like anybody else is. But just trying to figure out what suits everybody right now during this OTA period, and to have guys that are able to do different roles but also go in there and not be afraid to block, team-first guys, that’s what we want. Guys are going to be able to mix and match and learn different positions and see what sticks and go from there.”
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for more than four decades including 37 years as the full-time beat writer/columnist for the D&C. He has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills begin Allen and Moore connection at OTAs
Reporting by Sal Maiorana, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
