Vikings Sign 1,200-Yard Explosive Slot Receiver To Support Elite Perimeter Weapons
The Minnesota Vikings are not exactly deficient in the offensive skill position department.
With the likes of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, TJ Hockenson and Aaron Jones surrounding the quarterback, it is no wonder Minnesota is deciding to put their faith in second year QB, JJ McCarthy.
However, despite their abundance of offensive talent, the Vikings are still making additions on offense this free agency period, as the team confirmed on X that they are signing former Cardinals and Falcons slot receiver, Rondale Moore.
Rondale Moore Signing With The Minnesota Vikings
Not exactly a marquee signing by any means, Moore is still an intriguing pickup for the Vikings offensively.
A classic “buy low” spot for a player who spent the entirety of 2024 on the sidelines with a knee injury suffered during training camp, Minnesota is adding an ultra-dynamic slot receiver, who was considered to be one of the most elusive, slippery wideouts coming out of the 2021 NFL draft.
Having not played a single down for the Falcons, who he was traded to in exchange for quarterback, Desmond Ridder, the former Cardinal is moving on to pastures new.
At this point, there are few NFL landing spots, on paper, better than the Kevin O’Connell-coached Vikings.
However, much of this will depend on the viability of JJ McCarthy, who is still yet to record an NFL snap, having spent the entirety of his rookie season sidelined with a meniscus tear. If McCarthy can play effectively, the offense will be set to be humming – if not – Minnesota could be in for a very long season.
What Will Moore’s Role Look Like In Minnesota?
There are not many franchises in which Rondale Moore would immediately come in and be a presumed starter, even as a WR3. Injuries and consistently mediocre production have given him the “bust tag” – fairly or not, relative to his reasonably high draft status – 49th overall.
Even in competing with a very questionable receiving corps in Arizona, Moore never managed to start more than half the team’s total games in any given season.
And the one season that it looked like he might get going – generating 414 receiving yards in his first 8 games after missing the first three with a hamstring injury , all of which were starts – he ended up on injured reserve by mid-December.
Minnesota does not have a clear-cut, set-in-stone #3 receiver coming into 2025. Jalen Nailor is primed to take that role after breaking out in a few big games against the Packers and Lions towards the end of the season.
However, Nailor’s 414-yard season hardly has him nailed into the spot, and Moore’s twitchiness and elite elusiveness could allow him to make some splash plays in training camp and preseason to catch O’Connell’s eye.
Regardless of whether he wins the official starting job or not, the former Cardinal certainly has an opportunity to be a major contributor on the Vikings’ offense in 2025 as the team begins to shape their future.
