Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Allen Robinson isn't surprised the Bears traded DJ Moore to the Bills

Episode Date: March 5, 2026

Leila Rahimi and Mark Grote were joined by longtime NFL receiver Allen Robinson to react to the Bears trading receiver DJ Moore to the Bills.

Did the scouts expect you to be what you become? I don't think so. I don't think a lot of people did. For me, I definitely expected myself to play at this level. But when did you know that you were good? I haven't known since I was five years old. I've known a fresh set of downs at the 32-yard line. Play action, down the middle of the field.

It is Robinson and two. The end zone. Tuckstown, Chicago. Anderson twice keeping this thing alive. Big plays. Stafford. Robinson, Chuck ball touchdown. Now, funny locker room stories.

I don't know about any funny, man. Ben is a pretty serious locked in dude. You know, he's like that constantly. You know, Ben, every blue moon, you know, Ben, a crack one of those kind of evil smiles, if you will. With Rahimi Harrison Grody on 1043, the score. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043, the score. And Alan Robinson joins us on our hotline,

the Pro Bowl wide receiver, Chicago Bear from 2018 to 2021, co-host of the press release podcast. He is at Alan Robinson on X and he joins us on Twitch, Twitch.tv slash the Score Chicago. Alan, thanks for coming on

on a very busy breaking news day here. I appreciate it. Thank you guys having me. What is your initial reaction to hearing the news that DJ Moore goes to be in Buffalo, his former OC, is now the head coach and Joe Brady, and he's playing with Josh Allen and has traded away

from the Bears. You know, something that doesn't surprise me, even at the combine, when you look at the players that the Bears currently have on their roster, they had a lot of young players on the offensive side of the ball, really performing. I would say outperform as far as expectation was in year one. And when you look at how to get Colston Loveland more opportunities, how to get Luther Bird and more opportunities, sometimes you have to add by doing subtraction. That in this case was DJ Moore.

But at the same time, I feel like for DJ Moore, the opportunities that he wants to have and that he wants to look at as more of a number one guy, I think that fits in Buffalo well. Obviously, he has the familiar face with Joe Brady who knows how to utilize a skill set like that, who just took over. It's been talks this entire offseason on how and will the Buffalo bills add another weapon for Josh Allen. And they did that today. I think it's a win-win for both sides. Yeah, we know that DJ Moore has that star potential.

And we've been using the chemistry word to talk about Caleb Williams and DJ Moore, which has kind of run hot and cold, some of the biggest catches in franchise history by DJ Moore and then games where we're all looking up the statistics and saying, where's the targets, where's the catches? Chemistry is a funny thing because it's like in your case, Alan, you had great chemistry with Mitch Tribisky and that it just wasn't the same with Justin Fields. Can you relate to that a little bit and how this opportunity, as successful as he was with the Bears, could be even better for DJ Moore?

Yeah, and I think it's styles. And I say styles because even for myself with Mitchell, Mitchell always had the whole field at his disposal and being able to go through his rees. Sometimes a lot of plays that were made with Justin Fields may be more of scrimble-like plays. So now you're talking about what side of the field are these plays happening on?

Is he being flushed out or is he escaping out of a particular side? Now when you look at halves of the field and how that may take place with a mobile quarterback, even though Josh Allen is mobile as well, I think we've saw the consistency that he's had with guys like Stefan Diggs in his past to be able to get the ball to a number one receiver. We're talking to Alan Robinson, co-hosted the press release podcast, former Bears receiver here on 1043 The Score. Alan, one of the things I thought about too was we saw that DJ Moore's number of targets went down this year. And before I talk about a receiver's production, I always say, well, he can't target himself.

And there are times where I feel like sometimes just a function of plays can limit whether or not you're in a quarterback's line of sight. How do you speak to that knowing, say, if you're getting a lot of pressure on the left side, that's where the weakness of the Bears line was last year. And you've got to rush on the left side. Naturally, quarterback's going to roll out to the right. Okay, well, if you're a receiver on the left side, it's going to make you less likely to be the read on that play. What do you think about just that concept and how that would work out when it comes to production overall?

I think that's definitely a factor. You know, I think when you look at all the factors, that's definitely one. Then you also have to look at what side of the field is the quarterback escaping to that's most comfortable for him. That's also something to be factored in. And now you also have to factor in, where is this person being placed in the progression?

Because as we know, sometimes some of your more veteran receipts, some of your more veteran quarterbacks, if you will, the Matthew Stafford's, the Jared Gough, can hang in there and get to their third and fourth read. But sometimes for younger quarterbacks and who also are more mobile, they don't get past their second read. They like to use their legs. And then once they use their legs to extend the play,

now they find a receiver. But being able to stay on script if you're not the first or second target or sometimes even if you are the second target with all those factors being involved, sometimes it can have a reduction in targets just by the sheerness of those factors that take place on a Sunday. I know you follow the whole NFL

and obviously you're always keeping an eye on your ex-team the Bears. What have you thought about this off-season for the Bears with what happened today with Drew Dalman pulling the surprise party on everybody by retiring at the age of 27? Right now, don't have a left tackle. You almost don't have linebackers.

You don't have safeties right now. And maybe you could speak to like the NFL in general and the way it works. But what have you thought about the Bears offseason in general and the way it looks relative to just feels like last week, we were all thrilled over the fact that the Bears beat Green Bay in the playoffs or we're headed to take on L.A. in the next round. Yeah, this is about how I thought it would be. You know, for me, I've learned from playing in NFL that each year is its own. kind of entity and how you kind of get to that can be different.

So we knew, well, at least I thought coming into this with some of the weapons that they have and with those guys really needing more opportunities coming into this year, that there may be a chance somebody on that offense that's there this past season wouldn't be there. Now, when you look at the defensive side of the ball, the linebacker core, secondary, there's always moves that can be made. Obviously, when you have the subtraction of a DJ Moore, you now acquire some draft capital. So now you're able to either use that in the draft or trade and use that. So there's many ways in this NFL to be able to skin a cat, if you will, on how you acquire talent, rather if that's

free agency or draft. Please excuse the alarmed look for Mark. Alan. Mark has a cat at home, so I think he took that one a little alarmed. Yeah, he made a face. I'm disappointed in you, Alan. But you're right. There's a lot of different ways to go about this. When you consider, though, how catastrophic this can be, or just the overall effect on an offense that was functioning well and thought perhaps at least that many of the long-term pieces were in place and the bears still don't have a set answer at left tackle because of Ozzie Tripillo's injury. How can this affect an offense in your understanding as a former player? How much can this really change things? You know, it has the possibility of changing things.

You know, now you're really leaning on the development of your players, of some of your young players from year one to year two. You know, but when you draft guys in the first round, when you draft guys in the second round, that's something that you kind of foresee as you're sitting in those draft rooms of, okay, where will these guys be at in year one to year two? And I think they're on pace. So there is a risk that you take when you have a veteran player that has been there, one of your leaders now exes, since the building, but now it's the opportunity for some of your young guys to step up as well. This will be year three for Caleb, so he's not on the younger side or rookie side anymore. And I say that because some guys still consider rookies guys in year two before they play three games that year are rookie.

So you have guys that have to step up, and I think that's on the coaching staff and on the development of the players. But it is a risk, but you have the pieces in place that need to step up. Alan also just made me think that like, of course you're better off having DJ Moore in your wide receivers room. But it's different because Caleb Williams, like he's coming up with Roma Dunzee. He's coming up with Luther Bird and Colston Loveland. These are his guys. So he doesn't have to, you know, for whatever reason like we talked about the chemistry,

he doesn't have to sort of like force it now to DJ Moore. Like DJ Moore is not getting his. I've got to get the ball to DJ Moore. he's growing with these young guys. Is there something to that? Because again, I see the parallel with you back in 2018. Once they've figured it out, get the ball to Alan Robinson as much as possible,

even though you have other weapons like Anthony Miller and company and some of the guys that you had on that 2018 team. Yeah, you know, I definitely think it can ease the mind of a quarterback. But, you know, again, man, you're really trusting in, you're really trusting on the development of the young players and just the cohesiveness that Caleb Williams will have with those guys. I even look at example like to where DJ Moore is going. DJ Moore is now going to the Buffalo Bills.

Once the Buffalo Bills got rid of Stefan Diggs, there were, Josh Allen didn't necessarily have to force the ball to digs all the time. And sure enough, right after, they were in need of a weapon. So sometimes it can help, but sometimes it can hurt. But, again, differently than that situation, I think the Chicago Bears have the weapons in place that I think, like you said before, having a younger crew of guys who can just kind of develop together and come up together, I think that will be good for them.

Alan, also, we just are seeing a lot of big name receivers move around the league now. Yeah, this is a trend that happened, I want to say, like maybe five or six years ago, where some of the biggest names like Tyreek Hill goes to Miami from Kansas City, for example. That seems to just be part of it. George Pickens gets traded. He gets the franchise tag on the tag deadline day earlier this week. What do you think about just the movement when it comes to some of the biggest names who are receivers with big contracts getting dealt like this all across the league.

Yeah, I mean, we've, you know, we're in kind of uncharted territory now when it comes to just player movement. And from a day-to-day basis, anybody can be moved. You know, I remember a day where quarterbacks didn't really get released. Now you see quarterbacks, you saw Kyler Murray possibly getting released. You see Kirk Cousins on the market to possibly get released. So when you see things like that, the NFL continues to change and continue. continues to evolve. So, I mean, I'm a person, again, where there weren't many trades. When I first came into the NFL, you didn't see a lot of big trades when it came to skill position guys and

quarterbacks. But now that's something that just becomes a part of the norm. Why do you think that is? I think when you see teams do it and it kind of works when you see the L.A. Rams trade for Jaylon Ramsey. And he comes in and does what he does. When you see the GM for the Rams trade, some of the draft capital and then they win the Super Bowl and he has a shirt that says F those picks. It's a copycat league. It's a copycat league. People see what other guys are doing and they, and something that may have been extremely

valuable in previous years, which to some still are, first round draft picks. They aren't as valuable to others as that. They would rather have the more proven talent to bring into their building. Obviously, we just saw the Rams again, trade for a cornerback yesterday from Kansas City and use one of those first round draft picks. So people go about it different ways, but it's kind of a copycat league, and I think people are a little less afraid now to trade some of those bigger names and bigger contracts. I think about the Matt Stafford trade, too, Alan.

You know, I think about the Matthew Stafford trade, and that seems him to L.A. Jared Goff goes to Detroit, and it worked out for everybody. Definitely, definitely. And again, I think that's what, and, you know, shout out to those teams for making that happen because I think that's what makes it so cool is that things like that and situations like that do work out for everybody. Even looking at the trade today with DJ Moore, I do think that's probably in the best interest of DJ Moore and the Chicago Bears. They get some draft capital. Their younger guys get to get on the field and get some more opportunities. DJ Moore goes to

Buffalo, a team that needed a receiver. And I think both teams win. Well, and I'll put you in DJ Moore's shoes for example. If you found out that you were going to work with Josh Allen and your former offensive coordinator, how would you feel if you were in that position? I would be excited because obviously there's been rumblings that he may be dealt this offseason at some point in time anyway. So once you kind of swallow that pill and get an understanding that I may be dealt, I may not be on the Chicago Bears next year, now it's what's the next best situation? And I think him going to an offensive coordinator that he had a tremendous amount of success with and also a quarterback like Josh Allen, I don't think it gets much better than

that. Talking to the former bear, Alan Robinson, right here on Rahimi Harris and Grotie. Focus of the day, if you're just turning on your radio, DJ Moore has been traded to the Buffalo Bills. The Bears getting back a second round pick this year in the draft. Alan, what do you think about what's been going on with A.J. Brown going back to this season in Philadelphia and some of his unhappiness. And I know teams like New England are talking about potentially acquiring A.J. Brown. What do you think about that talent? And I don't know. I doubt anything would happen with the bears that he would end up a bear. But what do you think about AJ Brown?

I don't think that he'll end up a bear, but I think he's a phenomenal player. I could see him still being in Philadelphia next year. I mean, Philadelphia is a team where when you look at their offense. I don't think they can get better by trading a player like that, even if it's for a draft capital. That's a team that has been win now for the past three to four years, maybe even dating back to five years. So I don't know if they can just fill that void or if they have the talent on the roster like the Chicago Bears, the young talent on the roster like the Chicago Bears to be able to trade one of their veteran receivers. But I could also, you know, Howie Roseman,

he's a dealer, man. He'll make trades. He'll make moves and he's not afraid to move him. So you can't rule anything out. Where do you put Howie Roseman in line, like how you rank NFL GMs, Alan? He's up there for me. He might be the best in the league. He's up there for my. He's there for me too. I will put them at, I will put them at number two. I'll put him at one or two. You know, him and less, man, they, they're, there are some willing and dealing guys who have been able to keep their team in contention for a long time now. I love doing power rankings with you. Maybe he'll do the wide receiver here in a second, but I don't see your retirement papers yet. This is, this is what, this is what opens the door for you to finally get that invite back to Ben

Johnson and Bears training camp. Is that what's going on here, Alan Robinson? Listen, as much as I would love that, you know, I think that those days are are gone and behind me, again, I had a blast plan for Ben Johnson. I love the city of Chicago, but you know, but hey, you know, you can't, like you said before, never, you know, never say never. But I do think those, those days are long gone. Are you done like playing period? I mean, obviously that makes sense that it might not be a fit with the bears. But are you, are you calling it, Alan Robinson? Not exactly yet. We'll see. We'll see. We'll see. We'll see. But I haven't made a final decision on that either way yet.

When you hear somebody retiring early, like Drew Dalman at 27, obviously a very different position from yours. He being a center, you being a receiver. But when you hear about him retiring early, like what goes through your mind when you, what was your initial reaction? You know, when you think about some of those guys that are planting in the trenches, you know, that, Those positions can be pretty brutal. I mean, even look at Frank Ragnall. You know, he in Detroit. You know, he plays center. He had a pretty unexpected retirement as well, you know.

So, but shout out to those guys, man, take care of yourself, take care of your mental, take care of your physical. You know, when you've played in this league and the amount of time and stuff that guys have to dedicate to the game, whether that's getting themselves ready to play on Sunday mentally or physically some guys who've dealt with injury, I look at myself. You know, after I broke my foot in L.A., just the amount of maintenance each and every day that it took to get my body ready to play. You know, sometimes that can become pretty, pretty grueling. So at this day and age, man, with guys getting paid in NIL and stuff like that, I'm not surprised by early retirement.

It's shocking, though. I mean, it was. It is. It is. And again, and I'll say this, that's a position in Ben Johnson and that kind of system that's very, I'm not going to say dependent, but it's a very big chess piece when you have a good center like that. Again, even last year, I thought as tough as it was for the Detroit Lions to lose Ben Johnson, I think it was even more tougher than to lose Frank Ragnow as well. Yeah, I feel like that's true.

He's the first person I thought of when this happened with Drew Dalman. That was the first name that came to my mind. Same. He's the first person that came to my mind as well. And I know he had a foot injury that was pretty debilitating for him that also led to his decision. Well, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Then I got to ask you about this because you grew up in Detroit.

You're a Lions fan at heart. Did it crush your soul when Barry Sanders retired and then even to a different degree, Megatron down the line? Yeah, I mean, I was young when Barry are retired. But definitely when you see greats like that retiring prematurely, it definitely hurts your heart. But now looking back at it, hearing Calvin Johnson speak on just kind of how his body felt and what it would take for him to get going each and every Sundays and just the overall length of. of how he had to take treatment, even up in time to game day, to sleep in this hyperbaric chamber, day before the game and waking up at 3 a.m. to go home to sleep in the hyperbaric chamber. So guys are doing a lot to get their bodies ready to play on Sundays.

And sometime it just becomes a bit too much. Alan Robinson, per usual, this has been fantastic conversation. Thank you so much for joining us today. I appreciate it. Thank you for having me. Thanks, Alan. And if you want more of Alan Robinson, you can catch his podcast. the press release podcast.

He's also at Alan Robinson on X. He does actually post. So Alan Robinson once again, we thank him for joining us today on Rahimi Harrison Grotie. People are still holding on on the phones. Let's talk to them. I think we have to.

That's keep the customers with. Quick break. We'll get to all those calls. Yeah, because you guys have been on hold for a while. And unlike some bad, like, customer line, we're going to talk to you. So we'll do that next. 312-44-67-67.

following the news about DJ Moore, going to the bills next.