HEADLINES

Rondale Moore

Cardinals WR Rondale Moore In Store For Increased Workload

July 17th, 2022 at 9:39am CST by Rory Parks

Cardinals WR Rondale Moore is expected to see more of the field in 2022, as Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus writes (subscription required). Given the departure of Christian Kirk in free agency and the six-game suspension that DeAndre Hopkins will serve to start the season, that should not come as much of a surprise, but it is noteworthy nonetheless.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury acknowledged earlier this year that Moore — who saw 45% of Arizona’s offensive snaps in his rookie campaign in 2021 — will be a bigger part of the offense, and he specifically referenced the need to give the second-year pro more opportunities in space. Indeed, Moore’s size (5-7, 180) makes it difficult for him to physically dominate off the line of scrimmage, and his high-end speed will be best-utilized if QB Kyler Murray can get him the ball with room to run.

Interestingly, Moore’s ostensible big-play potential was not put on display last year. The Purdue product posted a measly 1.2-yard average depth of target in 2021, which, according to Kevin Cole of Pro Football Focus, was the third-lowest mark among rookie wideouts since 2006 (subscription required). Especially surprising is the fact that, of Moore’s 54 receptions, 37 came behind the line of scrimmage (h/t Neil Dutton of 4for4.com). And, as Cole posits, Arizona’s draft-day acquisition of similarly diminutive speed merchant Marquise Brown could mean that the club does not see Moore as a legitimate field stretcher.

The good news for Moore is that he was quite efficient with his targets, as one would hope for a player running primarily short and intermediate routes. His 54 catches came on just 64 passes thrown in his direction, good for a terrific 84.4% catch rate despite a low 8.1 yards-per-reception average.

Per Alex Sutton of CardsWire.com, the slot receiver role vacated by Kirk is generally assumed to belong to Moore. That is where he saw the majority of his snaps in 2021, and that familiarity can only help. Both Kingsbury and assistant head coach Shawn Jefferson have said that they will expand Moore’s route tree in 2022, and even if he is not asked to run many go routes in 2022, the presence of Brown — and Hopkins, when he returns from suspension — could open up the field for Moore to make the most of his speed and post significant YAC.

In addition to his expected uptick in snaps on the offensive side of the ball, Moore still projects as the club’s primary return man. He returned 21 punts and 13 kickoffs last year, though his averages (8.1 yards per punt return, 22.4 yards per kick return) were not particularly notable.

During Hopkins’ absence, the Cards are expected to have Brown and A.J. Green receive the bulk of the work outside the numbers.

Cardinals Sign Round 2 WR Rondale Moore

June 9th, 2021 at 2:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Shortly after coming to terms with first-rounder Zaven Collins on his first NFL contract, the Cardinals signed their second-round pick as well. Rondale Moore agreed to his four-year rookie deal Wednesday.

The Purdue wide receiver navigated a jagged path to Arizona, suffering an injury as a sophomore before becoming one of the players to opt out and then opt back in in 2020. Moore also will be the rare 5-foot-7 NFL wide receiver. But the shifty prospect will be expected to contribute in Kliff Kingsbury‘s offense early.

The Cards drafted Moore 49th overall, making him the third Round 2 wideout the franchise has chosen in four years. Christian Kirk went to Arizona in the 2018 second round, and Andy Isabella went off the board to the Cardinals a year later. Both remain on the roster, but neither has been especially consistent. Isabella has yet to carve out much of a role. The Cards, who signed A.J. Green this offseason, may also be without Larry Fitzgerald for the first time since 2003. Nearly three months into free agency, the future Hall of Famer is unsigned.

A highly regarded recruit in 2018, Moore dominated as a freshman. He totaled 1,471 scrimmage yards — 114 catches, 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns through the air — and earned All-American acclaim and Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. Injuries limited Moore in 2019, and he did not begin the conference’s COVID-19-shortened season until midway through the docket.

Moore played just seven games over the past two years, but the Cardinals saw enough over the course of the electric Boilermaker’s run to identify him as a slot helper for Kyler Murray. The Cards now have their entire draft class under contract.

Cardinals Draft Purdue WR Rondale Moore

April 30th, 2021 at 7:31pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals used the No. 49 pick in the draft to select wide receiver Rondale Moore. Depending on Larry Fitzgerald‘s big decision, the Purdue product could be in line for a significant role in 2021.

Moore dominated as a freshman in 2018, totaling 1,471 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns en route to Big Ten freshman of the year acclaim. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury ended the Boilermaker’s second season after just four games. Rather than enter the NFL only on the strength of his abbreviated underclassman run, the 5-foot-9 standout returned for one more year.

This summer, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler tabbed Moore as his No. 3 wideout prospect for the 2021 class. He wound up playing just three games this past year, but he made the most of them, going off for 35 catches and 270 yards.

Moore is a big-play threat who can make plays in space, and also has been an elite return specialist. His selection could be a sign that Fitzgerald is planning to hang up his cleats.

Arizona also signed A.J. Green this offseason, and this move is only pouring more fuel on the fire that Fitz is leaning toward retirement. With DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk also in tow, Kyler Murray is going to have quite the receiving group at his disposal in 2021.

Purdue WR Rondale Moore To Opt Back In For 2020 Season

September 24th, 2020 at 4:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

First-round wide receiver prospect Rondale Moore will return to Purdue for his junior season, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

One of several marquee Big Ten talents to opt out over the summer, Moore is the latest to reverse course. Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade has opted back in; so has Michigan tackle Jalen Mayfield. The Big Ten’s decision to begin play in October, after previously tabling its season to potentially 2021, has helped bring back some of its top players.

Moore will return after missing most of his sophomore season. The high-end Purdue recruit dominated as a freshman in 2018, totaling 1,471 scrimmage yards and 14 touchdowns en route to Big Ten freshman of the year acclaim. A hamstring injury ended the star Boilermaker’s second season after just four games. Rather than enter the NFL only on the strength of his abbreviated underclassman run, the 5-foot-9 standout will return for what will likely be his final college season.

This summer, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler tabbed Moore as his No. 3 wideout prospect for 2021 — behind LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase and Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman. Both players opted out, though Bateman has been connected to a 2020 return. Complications from Bateman signing with an agent have arisen, however.

COVID-19 has impacted the college football season considerably so far. The Houston Cougars have seen four games postponed or canceled. Notre Dame’s Saturday tilt against Wake Forest has been moved to December, and South Florida — which faced the Fighting Irish last week — nixed its Saturday game as a result. While the NFL has a much greater degree of certainty of finishing its 2020 season than the college game does, the Big Ten has agreed to follow the ACC, Big 12 and SEC in playing this fall. The northern Power 5 conference begins play Oct. 24.

Ohio State CB Shaun Wade Opts Back In; Latest On Other Big Ten Opt-Outs

September 17th, 2020 at 6:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the Big Ten now on track to begin its season in late October, Ohio State will have one of its top players back. Standout cornerback Shaun Wade said during an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter (via ESPN.com’s Field Yates, on Twitter) he changed his mind on opting out of the 2020 season. He is now set to play as a senior.

Set to follow the likes of Bradley Roby, Eli Apple, Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley and Jeff Okudah as an Ohio State corner to hear his name called in the first round, Wade will do so after playing a fourth Buckeyes season. He ranks as the No. 7 player on Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest 2021 big board.

Wade hired an agent but did not file any paperwork, according to ESPN.com. He is not the only one of the Big Ten opt-outs to reconsider. Ohio State offensive lineman Wyatt Davis, a potential first-round pick, also reversed course and opted back in (Twitter link).

First-round prospects Micah Parsons (linebacker, Penn State), Rondale Moore (wide receiver, Purdue), Jalen Mayfield (tackle, Michigan) and Rashod Bateman (wide receiver, Minnesota) opted out before Wade initially decided to pass on 2020. Not all are committed to skipping the season, though some still are.

Penn State coach James Franklin said the door is open for Parsons to play as a junior, according to PennLive.com, while Purdue HC Jeff Brohm intends to check on Moore’s status now that the conference timetable has changed. Bateman, however, does not plan to opt back in, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The Golden Gophers standout wideout has asthma and cited health concerns as a reason he will skip the COVID-19-altered season to prepare for the draft. Despite playing just one full season with the Wolverines, Mayfield plans to stick with his decision to bypass his junior season, per the Detroit Free Press.

Purdue WR Rondale Moore Opts Out

August 6th, 2020 at 5:31pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore will opt out of the 2020 collegiate football season, as he announced via his Twitter account.

It’s still unclear whether a college football season will even take place this fall, but we’ve already seen a number of prospective stars decide that taking the field isn’t worth the risk. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s entirely reasonable to assume that more NCAA stars will join Moore, Miami defensive end Gregory Rousseau, Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, Minnesota wideout Rashod Bateman in sitting out the year.

Moore was a breakout star during his freshman year in 2018, posting 114 receptions for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns while also adding value in the rushing game and on special teams. Dane Brugler of The Athletic currently ranks Moore as the third-best wideout in the 2020 class, noting the ex-Boilermaker has accrued an amazing two-thirds of his yardage after the catch.