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| Position: WR | Weight: 180 |
| College: Purdue | Age: 20 |
| Height: 5′ 9″ | 247 Rating: 4 Stars (0.9123) |
The Rundown:
Jaylen Waddle has some serious competition for the title of “Biggest Playmaker” in the 2021 NFL Draft. Rondale Moore has been lighting up college defenses since he was a true freshman and outside of an injury and a weird CO-VID season has continued to produce at a high level throughout his college career. There’s not many players who are scarier than Moore when they touch the ball, he can go from being surrounded behind the line of scrimmage to 10 yards beyond the defense on his way to the end zone.
College Production:
Moore has an incredible Breakout Age of 18.2, which puts him in the 99th percentile for that statistic. His incredible stat-line of 114 receptions, 1,258 receiving yards, and 14 total touchdowns as an 18 year old is historical. In the Big 10, against Ohio State his first year, he broke out for 12 receptions for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns leading Purdue to an incredible upset. By the end of his season, Moore had won the Paul Hornung Award and been selected as an All-American. After 4 games in 2019, Moore suffered a knee-injury and missed the rest of the season. During the 2020 season Moore had some behind the scenes issues with whether or not to play in the once-cancelled Big 10 season and ended up coming back for 3 games where he amassed 35 receptions for 270 yards before officially opting-out to prepare for the NFL Draft.
Strengths:
- Off the Charts Athleticism
- Thanks to the emphasis and depth on college recruiting we have verified testing results for Moore going back to high school, and it’s impressive. Moore has a verified 4.33 40 yard dash, a 4.01 shuttle, and a 42.7 vertical jump. These numbers are a bit ridiculous and if he can hit those same numbers at his pro day, teams will be salivating over Moore’s quick twitch abilities.
- Versatility
- Moore offers what a lot of coaches appreciate, a role on Special Teams. It’s usually overlooked by the casual fan, or even the dynasty fantasy football player, but having an impact on special teams gets you on the field quicker and gives you more opportunities to touch the ball and make an impact. Moore instantly will give just about any team an upgrade at kick returner and can be used all over the offense,. He’s a dream come true or a creative offensive coordinator, and I expect whichever team that drafts him will plan to get the best out of his skillset.
- Historical Production
- The true freshman production is something we don’t see often, especially sustained over the entirety of a football season. In a top conference, Moore was able to make an impact right away and now the question is if he’ll be able to walk into the NFL and make an impact right away. The history and statistics point to him being successful.
Weaknesses:
- Size Concerns
- At 5’ 9” and 180 pounds, Moore most likely isn’t going to be your alpha high-volume receiver. He’s got good size to him, he’s not tiny, but the NFL is a physical league and you always have to wonder if the smaller guys will be able to line up week-in and week-out against the most physical of players. Moore plays bigger than his listed weight, but the size will certainly knock him down a couple slots on some teams’ Big Boards.
- Gadget-y?
- It’s almost like a backhanded compliment to get compared to Tavon Austin. Yes he was one of the most exciting players to ever play in college football, but he essentially “busted” in the NFL. You can certainly argue that landing spot and the type of football being played when Austin was drafted didn’t help his cause, but these players sometimes become a bit gadgety and don’t fit into a traditional offense. Now going into 2021, the NFL plays a much different game than in 2013 when Austin was drafted. Teams are quicker, passing more often, and overall much more creative. Players like Tyreek Hill have opened up the door for the smaller more athletic players to have a significant role at the professional level of football.
Things to Watch:
With no NFL Combine this year we’re going to miss out on the official numbers that Moore would have put up, but I’m sure his pro days numbers will blow us away. His testing is going to look great and I expect him to look good in the Pro Day drills, and he should look good considering he opted-out and has been preparing for the draft. His film looks great and his numbers show that as well, making him a top receiver for most draft analysts.
Projected Round/Contract:
Before the season I would have said that Rondale Moore was a lock to go in the first round, but due to his limited season and the fact that some other players have burst onto the scene (DeVonta Smith), I think there’s a chance Moore finds himself selected on Day 2 of the draft. Whether it’s at the end of the first round or beginning of the second round, Moore is going to be drafted as a top wideout and playmaker, with ample opportunity. I think his contract might look similar to Tee Higgins’ ($1,974,270) contract which was for 4-years and a total of $8,686,785.
Team Fits:
One of the most exciting fits for Rondale Moore would be with the New Orleans Saints at the end of the first round. For a team that has one of the best wideouts in the league, they’re lacking in depth at the position. Sean Peyton would be an incredible coach for Moore, as he would find a multitude of ways to get Moore the ball with space in front of him, taking advantage of his greatest ability, creating yards after the catch. Moore would be a nice compliment to the traditional style of Michael Thomas ($18,800,000) and would be a nice weapon for whatever quarterback is starting for the team in 2021.
Another team that stands out to me for a possible marriage, is the Detroit Lions in the second round. With the recent trade the Lions are setting up for a rebuild, but Jared Goff ($27,825,000) gives them the opportunity to make a run if things come together quickly. With the Lions’ wideouts all but gone away to free agency, they need some new recruits. Moore would be a great fit to catch passes from Goff as he does most of his work on short quick passes and that fits the style the Lions are likely to now run. While I’m not sure that Moore will be able to take on the volume of a true WR1 right away, this fit would make a lot of sense for a team that is looking to acquire top talent for a value.
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