General manager Jerry Angelo doesn't mind if Vanderbilt cornerback D.J. Moore, a fourth-round pick (119th overall), is referred to as "short," since he is a fraction under 5-9. Just don't call the 192-pound Moore, "little."
"I see him more as short, not small," Angelo said. "But he plays tall. The guy's got incredible leaping ability, and he made an interception against Georgia ... there aren't three guys in the league that can make that interception going up for the ball. He's got some special ball skills, some athleticism.
"You see a lot of tall corners who play small. He's a short corner who can play tall. We've had success with those types of corners when we were down in Tampa. Ronde Barber was like that. We feel he's going to come in and compete."
Moore spent just three years at Vanderbilt, starting nine games as a true freshman, and he picked off 12 passes over the past two seasons. Moore also lined up on offense for 10-20 snaps per game, according to Bears scout Rex Hogan, and he returned punts and kickoffs.
"He's just a special athlete with great ball skills," Angelo said. "I haven't seen a corner with this kind of ball skills since (Nate) Vasher."
Vasher intercepted 13 passes for the Bears in his first two seasons and returned them for 322 yards and two touchdowns. But he has just four picks in the past two seasons for 45 yards.
Bears director of college scouting Greg Gabriel was also impressed with Moore, especially his versatility.
"He's a corner, he's a returner, he's even played some offense," Gabriel said. "He's a rare athlete. He's got great quickness. He's got great ball skills. He was a value pick for us at this pick."
Given the Bears' unsettled situation at right cornerback across from Charles Tillman, Moore could play a bigger role than any of his rookie classmates this season. Vasher has fallen out of favor, and he has missed 20 games due to injuries in the past two seasons. Corey Graham replaced Vasher last season, when he was injured, but neither of them has a lock on the job.
Moore sounds like he's ready for the challenge. He said he came out a year early because he was more than ready to move to the next level.
"I didn't believe I was going to get too much better than what I was," he said. "I felt I was the best cornerback in the draft."
He'll get a chance to prove it with the Bears.
