NFL Draft 2021 Scouting Report: WR Rondale Moore, Purdue

*WR grades can and will change as more information comes in from Pro Day workouts, Wonderlic test results leaked, etc. We will update ratings as new info becomes available.

*WR-B stands for "Big-WR," a classification we use to separate the more physical, downfield/over-the-top, heavy-red-zone-threat-type WRs. Our WR-S/"Small-WRs" are profiled by our computer more as slot and/or possession-type WRs who are typically less physical and rely more on speed/agility to operate underneath the defense and/or use big speed to get open deep...they are not used as weapons in the red zone as much. 

I’m posting this scouting report before the EXOS Combine (instead of waiting for them to complete) for two reasons:

1) I am starting to believe Moore is going to be the biggest winner of this Combine. He has been invited and I’m confident (90%) he WILL participate.

2) If his numbers come in as good as I think they will…he’s going to leap over some WRs currently higher rated/ranked by the mainstream and possibly be discussed as a top 10-15 overall pick.

Now, let’s discuss what and why I think this is going to happen…

When I briefly previewed Moore’s work in the summer of 2020, I saw some positives but wasn’t overwhelmed. I saw him as a smaller D.J. Moore type WR prospect – smaller in stature with a great physique, but only a ‘good’ WR.

However, digging in deeper this year – I’ve been converted. I’m a believer. I saw the superpower he possesses. I think Rondale Moore is legit. The better D.J. Moore…the D.J. Moore people think D.J. Moore is.

Three things make Rondale Moore a legit NFL WR, potential star here…

1) Athleticism

People compare him to Tyreek Hill, and I scoffed at that before this study…but now I can see why people say that. I don’t think he’s Tyreek, but he has many high-end athleticism traits…

He’s likely a 4.3 runner in the 40-time, low 4.3s. That’s going to get great attention right away, if true.

He’s likely a great three-cone and shuttle guy too…might be a 6.7-6.8 range three-cone.

What takes this to another level is – Moore is as muscular/strong as any 5’10” sized WR prospect I’ve ever researched. More physical than Tyreek. More physical than D.J. Moore…who has a great body but despite his physique too often plays like a frail/scared WR. Rondale might bench 20-25+ reps, which for his size is fantastic.

Rondale Moore is an elite physical specimen.

2) Toughness/Physicality

D.J. Moore has a lot of great athleticism metrics, but plays like a finesse WR – only good for deep passes and easy throws in soft coverage…drops a lot of passes over the middle in muddy waters and isn’t as reliable or desired on bubble screens, etc. Has had fumble issues. He’s easy to tackle/goes down too quickly.

Rondale Moore doesn’t have any of those problems. Moore is a great bubble screen worker and quasi-running back option. He returns kicks and punts (where many other top speedster WRs shy away from it/the coach doesn’t see them there). Which all leads to Rondale’s real ‘elite’ attribute…

Rondale is the best after-the-catch, hardest-to-tackle ‘small’ (5’11” or smaller) WR prospect that I think I have ever seen. He breaks tackles constantly. He really is like a power running back with the ball after the catch, and when you watch his tape you see him just blow through tackles to gain an extra 3-10-30+ yards on plays. You can’t arm tackle him. And the scary/great thing is – it’s not that he is lowering his shoulder and ramming people over, no…he’s more graceful/artful than that – he just takes off running and defender’s arm tackles just melt off him and Rondale keeps rolling like he didn’t even know he was hit. It’s wildly impressive – and is what will best serve him/make him a star in the NFL.

3) Not a Diva

Moore was recruited heavily coming out of high school, he initially committed to Texas…he decided, ultimately, to reject Ohio State to join Purdue because he trusted the coaches there more. Who does that?

He is an All-Academic Big Ten athlete…graduating in 2.5 years at Purdue (Sales Management).

His body and lifting feats attest to his work ethic off-the-field for football.

He opted-out early on from 2020 season, but then when info came along that said it was safe – Moore returned to the team and played in 2020. He could’ve just sat out and protected his draft stock.

He does not act like a diva on the field. He usually scores a TD and then hands the ball to the ref and goes to the sidelines, instead of acting like an idiot or as if every score won the game.

Everything you want to know about Rondale Moore’s skills and attitude you can see/witness with the first two plays of this highlight reel tape (from the play to the after-the-play): https://youtu.be/1EACeAyqslI

In the end, Moore is a near can’t-miss WR prospect for the NFL. The only knock anyone could muster is – he missed most of his 2019 season when he hurt his hamstring, big time, and missed 60%+ of the season. That’s really not proof for or against any ‘injury prone’ claims. Moore is in as physically good of shape as any WR in this draft (and then some), so I don’t feel like he’s inherently injury prone. What he might be is – the best all-around WR prospect in this draft. How anyone could rate similar-sized Jaylen Waddle ahead of Moore is criminal…it’s a ‘big school’ bias…a bias that usually gets torn down in March and April, pre-Draft, but then gets resurrected for the next draft season – dolts rating players they are aware of from big schools at the top and then adjusting when real scouting data/momentum changes them.

Rondale Moore, Through the Lens of Our WR Scouting Algorithm:

First team All-American as a freshman…that’s pretty amazing. As a freshman, he led the NCAAs in catches (118). He led the Big Ten in catches, yards, TDs. 

Played 13 games as a freshman (2018), then just four as a sophomore (hurt hamstring, missed the rest of the season), then just three of their 6 games in 2020 (returned from opt-out a little behind). 

20 career games played, had 8 or more catches in a game 14 times. 

Career rushing: 30 carries, 248 yards (8.3 ypc), 3 TDs.

Against Ohio State (2018), Auburn (2019), Wisconsin (2018), his toughest opponents: 10.7 rec., 126.0 yards, 1.0 TDs per game…plus a rushing TD.

Nine of 20 games Moore produced 100+ receiving yards. Ten of 20 games with a 100+ total rushing + receiving tally.

EXOS Combine Projection:

5’8”/180, 9.33” hands

4.3s 40-time. 6.7-6.8 three-cone. 

20+ bench press reps and 11’0”+ broad jump. 

The Historical WR Prospects to Whom Rondale Moore Most Compares Within Our System:

We forget how ahead of his time Brandin Cooks was a prospect, and Cooks was tough/good/great – but I see Rondale as a physically better version – Cooks’ skillset with Steve Smith’s heart/toughness. 

*A score of 7.0+ is where we start to take a Small-WR prospect more seriously. A score of 8.50+ is where we see a stronger correlation of a Small-WR going on to become NFL good/great/elite. A score of 10.00+ is more rarefied air in our system and indicates a greater probability of becoming an elite NFL Small-WR.

All of the WR ratings are based on a 0–10 scale, but a player can score negative, or above a 10.0 in certain instances.

Overall WR score = A combination of several on-field performance measures, including refinement for strength of opponents faced. Mixed with all the physical measurement metrics, rated historically in our database.

“Power-Strength” = A combination of unique metrics surrounding physical-size profiling, bench press strength, etc.  High scorers here project to be more physical, better blockers, and less injury-prone.

“Speed-Agility” = A combination of unique metrics surrounding speed, agility, physical size, mixed with some on-field performance metrics. High scorers here project to have a better YAC and show characteristics to be used as deep threats/create separation.

“Hands” = A combination of unique metrics surrounding on-field performance in college, considering the strength of opponents played. Furthermore, this data considers some physical profiling for hand size, etc. High scorers here have a better track record of college statistical performance, and overall this projects the combination of performance and physical data for the next level.

2021 NFL Draft Outlook:

I’m seeing Moore ranked/mocked as a #20+ overall pick, sometimes early 2nd-round, but mostly 1st-round late. I think after the EXOS Combine, he could shoot into the top 15 rankings and in reality be taken somewhere around #15. There’s so much ‘next Tyreek Hill’ chatter, that he might be the first WR taken with an ace EXOS Combine.

If I were an NFL GM, I’d have a lot of interest in Moore joining my team. However, I’m probably not paying top 15-20 draft pick stock for a really good WR. The business sense doesn’t compute on such a move. There’s going to be a great player at a more key/economically low supply position that I can take ahead of a WR/Moore.

Is Moore going to be one of the top 15 or so prospects graded by our computer models? Maybe…but I think there will be better spends of draft capital top 10-15 than Moore…though I’d LOVE to have him. One of the difference-making offensive players in this draft at WR.

NFL Outlook:   

Should be a good-to-great NFL player. He’s built for today’s NFL. An instant Week 1 starter and is, arguably, the best all-around WR prospect in this draft. 

2/23/2021