WR, Purdue
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 175 lbs
Class: Junior
We’ve not seen much of Rondale Moore recently but prior to opting-out he was going to be one of the most exciting and dynamic players to watch in 2020. His 2018 campaign was a joy to behold and he could well be the second receiver off the board in the draft.
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Strengths
Moore has earned comparisons to Tyreek Hill and it is easy to see why. He has great speed and is a legitimate deep threat that defenses need to account for. Moore is a super athletic prospect, with fluid hips and the ability to create separation at every level of the field. In 2018 he became the first true freshman Consensus All-American in the history of the Big Ten and broke school records for all-purpose yardage in a single season (2,215) and in a single game (313).
His change of direction ability is elite and his stop-start quickness causes all sorts of problems for defensive backs. This gives his game a real versatility and he can be used in screens, sweeps, as well as a deep threat from out wide or the slot.
Where he really wins big is after the catch. Despite his diminutive stature he is tough to bring down. In his last full season as a starter he led all receivers with 37 broken tackles. A staggering 67.7 per cent of his career yardage has come with the ball in his hands. For perspective, Jaylen Waddle is at 54.2 per cent.
Weaknesses
Whilst from a talent perspective Moore is one of the best receivers in the draft, teams will have serious concerns about his sample size. After an excellent freshman season, Moore missed the last eight games of the 2019 season after suffering a bad knee injury. He opted out of the 2020 season, meaning that by the time of the draft it will be over 18 months since we last saw him play.
The other obvious concern will be his size. Whilst Tyreek Hill is proof that smaller receivers can be elite at the next level, some teams will have concerns about Moore’s ability to win against more physical receivers on the outside. Unsurprisingly, he doesn’t offer much in contested catch situations, although this is not as much of a problem given his ability to consistently create separation.
Bottom Line
Moore is one of the most talented receivers in the 2021 class, but concerns over injuries and sample size could see him drop down draft boards. He has all of the tools to be a great NFL receiver though and whoever picks him up will be grabbing one hell of a player.
