One Vikings Speedster Still Has the Juice
After Brandon Powell did not rejoin the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, the franchise pursued a new Powell-like wideout, Rondale Moore.
A speedy new Vikings playmaker is showing he’s still got burst and big-play potential at training camp. Here’s why his explosiveness could make a difference this season.
The Arizona Cardinals originally found Moore in Round 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft, but his career has never fully taken off, and an injury sidelined him for all of 2024.
But now Moore is back, is a Viking, and special teams coordinator Matt Daniels is singing his praises.
Rondale Moore Turns Heads at Vikings Training Camp
Moore could be deployed as an undercover weapon in 2025.
Vikings Special Teams Coach Heaps Praise on Rondale Moore
Moore hasn’t totally gripped training camp by the throat — that’s Lucky Jackson’s job — but he’s done enough to draw the eye of special teams boss, Matt Daniels.
Daniels said this week about Moore, “I think that’s probably the most surprising thing that I’ve seen out of Rondale is the explosion is still there, especially considering the injury that he did suffer last year, coming off of it. The confidence is still there, and that’s always the biggest thing when you’re coming off these injuries.”
“How do they handle it from a mental standpoint, more so than the physical aspect of it, and I think he’s done an unbelievable job of rehabbing and really coming back to his own. I would say that 4.28-speed is still on display and the Porsche is ready to go.”
A reporter asked Daniels, too, if Moore would lead punt-returning duties in Minnesota, to which he replied, “For sure. The idea is to get Rondale in there as early and often as possible, just to get him comfortable.”
And just like that, a roster spot, if only for returning punts, might be on the way for Moore.
Much-Needed Depth at WR
Meanwhile, the Vikings need all the pass-catching bodies they can tap.
Why? Well, Jordan Addison will miss the regular season’s first three games due to a suspension. He’s on the shelf no matter what. He is not appealing. Without Addison, and in addition to Justin Jefferson, some hodgepodge of Jalen Nailor, Lucky Jackson, Silas Bolden, and Moore must take the reins as WR options for quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Moore has appeared in 39 career games, so after Daniels’ endorsement, he has the game-ready resume and summer momentum to contribute in September.
2025 Utility
Whether the Vikings use Moore prominently on offense is up in the air. Oddly, the aforementioned Jackson has taken over the WR4 job, at least according to the initial preseason depth chart, seeming to shove Moore to a WR5 spot. And on Sundays, WR5s rarely factor into the offensive gameplan.
Therefore, Moore might’ve already carved out a punt-returning role, fitting for a man with his speed.
It’s a grand mystery, though, whether head coach and offensive play-caller Kevin O’Connell will deploy the speed merchant on offense. Stay tuned.
Vikings’ Emphasis on Speed This Offseason
Speed has been on the menu for Minnesota this offseason. Not debatable.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed Moore (4.28 speed, mentioned by Daniels), cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (4.27 speed), and undrafted free agent wideout Silas Bolden (4.36 speed).
All NFL clubs have fast players, but the purple team has leaned full tilt into speed in the last six months, and Moore’s apparent promotion to punt returner is primary evidence.
PurplePTSD on Moore
From VikingsTerritory‘s content orbit, Janik Eckardt opined on Moore this week: “Injuries haunted him in the following two seasons, and he only appeared in a total of seven games. Still, his skill set was exciting enough for the Arizona Cardinals to pull the trigger in the second round of the 2021 draft. Moore was a solid contributor in his three seasons in Arizona, but he is still waiting for his true breakout season.”
“He gained 511, 409, and 530 yards from scrimmage and scored a combined four touchdowns. In his rookie year, he also served as the team’s return specialist. Last year, the Cardinals shipped him to Atlanta in exchange for backup quarterback Desmond Ridder. The knee injury ended his season in camp.”
Moore might just need touches in O’Connell’s system, which could be available as early as September.
Eckardt added, “At 5’7″ with 4.3 speed, the Vikings have a fast and quick weapon in the passing game, who could bring a different dynamic to the offense. His yard-after-catch ability is something the team has lacked in recent years. It’ll be a competitive race for the roster spots at wide receiver, though.”
“If Moore can contribute as a special-teams player, he could secure one of the five or six WR spots in the room, regardless. Moore is 25 years old and will be a player to monitor in the preseason. The two critical items are whether he can catch the punt cleanly and if he’s explosive with the ball in his hands.”
Moore should see substantial action in Saturday’s first preseason game against the Houston Texans.
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