The Cardinals are pulling the plug on the Rondale Moore experiment. They’re sending him to Atlanta in exchange for Desmond Ridder in a straight-up swap of regretted draft picks.
Ridder likely will back up Kyler Murray. With the Falcons having signed Kirk Cousins, they’re looking to add depth pass catchers, with Moore a possibility to rotate in for some snaps.
Moore is only 5-foot-7, but with him having a 114-catch season at Purdue, the Cardinals decided to select him in the middle of the second round in 2021. They primarily lined him up in the slot, but never really got him going. For a while last year, it looked like he might finish the season with more yards rushing than receiving.
Moore caught 135 passes in three years with the Cardinals, but not enough of them went anywhere. He’s averaged only 8.9 yards per catch as a pro. In the last three years, 66 other wide receivers have caught at least 100 passes, and they’ve all averaged more yards per catch than Moore.
Maybe the Falcons will be able to use him more effectively, with him chipping in a notable play here and there. But I don’t see Moore as draftable right now. (I don’t expect he’ll be one of my top 100 wide receivers this summer.)
WIDE RECEIVERS, YARDS PER CATCH (last 3 years) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rk | Player | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
1. | George Pickens, Pitt. | 115 | 1,941 | 16.9 | 9 |
2. | Gabe Davis, Buff. | 128 | 2,131 | 16.6 | 20 |
3. | Brandon Aiyuk, S.F. | 209 | 3,183 | 15.2 | 20 |
4. | Deebo Samuel, S.F. | 193 | 2,929 | 15.2 | 15 |
5. | Darius Slayton, NYG | 122 | 1,833 | 15.0 | 8 |
6. | Amari Cooper, Cle. | 218 | 3,275 | 15.0 | 22 |
7. | A.J. Brown, Phil. | 257 | 3,821 | 14.9 | 23 |
8. | Mike Evans, T.B. | 230 | 3,414 | 14.8 | 33 |
9. | Nico Collins, Hou. | 150 | 2,224 | 14.8 | 11 |
10. | Justin Jefferson, Min. | 304 | 4,499 | 14.8 | 23 |
11. | Donovan Peoples-Jones, 2TM | 108 | 1,591 | 14.7 | 6 |
12. | Tee Higgins, Cin. | 190 | 2,776 | 14.6 | 18 |
13. | Mike Williams, LAC | 158 | 2,290 | 14.5 | 14 |
14. | Puka Nacua, LAR | 105 | 1,486 | 14.2 | 6 |
15. | Terry McLaurin, Was. | 233 | 3,246 | 13.9 | 14 |
16. | DeVante Parker, N.E. | 104 | 1,448 | 13.9 | 5 |
17. | JaMarr Chase, Cin. | 268 | 3,717 | 13.9 | 29 |
18. | Josh Reynolds, Det. | 107 | 1,483 | 13.9 | 10 |
19. | Jerry Jeudy, Den. | 159 | 2,197 | 13.8 | 8 |
20. | Chris Olave, N.O. | 159 | 2,165 | 13.6 | 9 |
21. | Tyreek Hill, Mia. | 349 | 4,748 | 13.6 | 29 |
22. | DK Metcalf, Sea. | 231 | 3,129 | 13.5 | 26 |
23. | DJ Moore, Chi. | 252 | 3,409 | 13.5 | 19 |
24. | Jaylen Waddle, Mia. | 251 | 3,385 | 13.5 | 18 |
25. | DeVonta Smith, Phil. | 240 | 3,178 | 13.2 | 19 |
26. | Christian Kirk, Jac. | 218 | 2,877 | 13.2 | 16 |
27. | Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 236 | 3,102 | 13.1 | 22 |
28. | Courtland Sutton, Den. | 181 | 2,377 | 13.1 | 14 |
29. | CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 321 | 4,210 | 13.1 | 27 |
30. | Allen Lazard, NYJ | 123 | 1,612 | 13.1 | 15 |
31. | DeAndre Hopkins, Ten. | 181 | 2,346 | 13.0 | 18 |
32. | Kalif Raymond, Det. | 130 | 1,681 | 12.9 | 5 |
33. | Davante Adams, L.V. | 326 | 4,213 | 12.9 | 33 |
34. | Kendrick Bourne, N.E. | 127 | 1,640 | 12.9 | 10 |
35. | Darnell Mooney, Chi. | 152 | 1,962 | 12.9 | 7 |
36. | Drake London, Atl. | 141 | 1,771 | 12.6 | 6 |
37. | Cooper Kupp, LAR | 279 | 3,496 | 12.5 | 27 |
38. | Chase Claypool, 2TM | 113 | 1,388 | 12.3 | 4 |
39. | Calvin Ridley, Jac. | 107 | 1,297 | 12.1 | 10 |
40. | Stefon Diggs, Buff. | 318 | 3,837 | 12.1 | 29 |
41. | Garrett Wilson, NYJ | 178 | 2,145 | 12.1 | 7 |
42. | Michael Gallup, Dall. | 108 | 1,287 | 11.9 | 8 |
43. | Josh Palmer, LAC | 143 | 1,703 | 11.9 | 9 |
44. | Brandin Cooks, Dall. | 201 | 2,393 | 11.9 | 17 |
45. | Nelson Agholor, Balt. | 103 | 1,216 | 11.8 | 9 |
46. | Tyler Boyd, Cin. | 192 | 2,257 | 11.8 | 12 |
47. | Elijah Moore, Cle. | 139 | 1,624 | 11.7 | 8 |
48. | K.J. Osborn, Min. | 158 | 1,845 | 11.7 | 15 |
49. | Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. | 315 | 3,588 | 11.4 | 21 |
50. | Diontae Johnson, Pitt. | 244 | 2,760 | 11.3 | 13 |
51. | Marvin Jones, Det. | 124 | 1,396 | 11.3 | 7 |
52. | Jakobi Meyers, L.V. | 221 | 2,477 | 11.2 | 16 |
53. | Keenan Allen, LAC | 280 | 3,133 | 11.2 | 17 |
54. | Chris Godwin, T.B. | 285 | 3,150 | 11.1 | 10 |
55. | Marquise Brown, Ari. | 209 | 2,291 | 11.0 | 13 |
56. | Robert Woods, Hou. | 138 | 1,509 | 10.9 | 7 |
57. | Romeo Doubs, G.B. | 101 | 1,099 | 10.9 | 11 |
58. | JuJu Smith-Schuster, N.E. | 122 | 1,322 | 10.8 | 4 |
59. | Michael Pittman, Ind. | 296 | 3,159 | 10.7 | 14 |
60. | Zay Jones, Jac. | 163 | 1,690 | 10.4 | 8 |
61. | Adam Thielen, Car. | 240 | 2,456 | 10.2 | 20 |
62. | Russell Gage, T.B. | 117 | 1,196 | 10.2 | 9 |
63. | Hunter Renfrow, L.V. | 164 | 1,623 | 9.9 | 11 |
64. | Curtis Samuel, Was. | 132 | 1,296 | 9.8 | 8 |
65. | Allen Robinson, Pitt. | 105 | 1,029 | 9.8 | 4 |
66. | Laviska Shenault, Car. | 100 | 951 | 9.5 | 1 |
67. | Rondale Moore, Ari. | 135 | 1,201 | 8.9 | 3 |
—Ian Allan