What Are They Saying? Reaction to Rondale Moore Selection

Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore (4) runs against Nebraska during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

With the 49th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected a wide receiver out of Purdue, Rondale Moore.

With the 49th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, we select WR Rondale Moore. pic.twitter.com/x2fVQpkGiS
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) May 1, 2021

The 5-foot-7, 180-pound receiver initially opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 but decided to play once the Big Ten announced they would play in the fall after all. In just three games in 2020, he had 35 receptions, 270 yards, 7.7 average; six carries, 32 yards, 5.3 yards per carry, one TD.

“A player that our scouts and coaching staff had high grades on…has the ability to be an elite kick returner and punt returner, which was an area we felt we had to improve,” Steve Keim said after the pick was announced.

“Rondale Moore can fly. You can use him on some of these gadget plays…not only is he fast, he is sturdy and strong. Once he breaks tackles and gets out in the open field, he is gone,” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah told the viewers during draft coverage.

In 2017 as a true freshman, Moore won the Paul Hornung award, which is awarded to the most versatile player in college football.

One of the Cardinals needs was speed, and it seems they may have addressed that with Moore. Here are some reactions from around the league on the second-round pick.

I’ll tell you what. That boy got JUICE🗣
— Chase Edmonds (@ChaseEdmonds22) May 1, 2021

Arizona @AZCardinals have a specific criterion this year. Tough. Smart. Able to jump in right away.
1. Zaven Collins– HS Valedictorian
2. Rondale Moore– Graduated from Purdue in 2.5 years
Both will be expected to be on the field Day 1. Moore a returner, too. @nflnetwork
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) May 1, 2021

Did the Cardinals just get a Tyreek Hill-esque WR?!
Pro Day Results for Tyreek Hill and Rondale Moore:
Hill Moore
4.29 40-yd dash 4.29
40.5 Vertical Jump 42.5
5'8 Height 5'7 pic.twitter.com/B9YZnheCnh
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) May 1, 2021

@CBSSports "Drafting (Rondale) Moore would also allow Kingsbury to move Moore into the backfield at times and put him in motion before the snap, providing the defense with a lot of speed to worry about.
— Mike Jurecki (@mikejurecki) May 1, 2021

Kyler Murray gonna have some WEAPONS around him this year 😳
– DeAndre Hopkins
– AJ Green
– Christian Kirk
– Rondale Moore
– Chase Edmonds
– James Conner pic.twitter.com/uhjDOZvqZp
— Overtime (@overtime) May 1, 2021

New Cardinals WR Rondale Moore once squatted 600lbs 😳
Moore is 5' 7" and weighs around 180lbs
This is wild.
(via @BoilerFootball)pic.twitter.com/pwAAMELB6I
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 1, 2021