Why Rondale Moore shouldn’t be a dark horse to win Rookie of the Year

Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Rondale Moore has the talent to surprise a lot of people next season and possibly even win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Currently, the Arizona Cardinals are home to arguably the NFL’s top wide receiver in DeAndre Hopkins. And while most are assuming A.J. Green will earn the Cardinals’ other starting receiver role, competition for that No. 2 spot behind Hopkins could be a lot more wide open than people might realize.

Green is going probably going to get the most opportunities to be Arizona’s second wide receiver during this summer’s training camp and preseason. But if he has to miss practice time due to injury or something else, there are a handful of other pass-catchers on the Cardinals‘ roster that are capable of using some extra reps in practice to pass Green on the depth chart.

One of these Arizona receivers that has the potential to beat out the former Cincinnati Bengals pass-catcher for the No. 2 role behind Hopkins next season is rookie Rondale Moore.

Don’t sleep on Arizona Cardinals WR Rondale Moore as the 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year

Six wide receivers were drafted this year before the Cardinals took Moore off the board in the second round. However, one could argue that Arizona’s rookie receiver has just as good of a chance to win the 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year award as the other six pass-catchers that were drafted before him.

First off, Moore could potentially find his way into becoming an important piece of the Cardinals’ offensive philosophy next season. Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury can have his rookie receiver line up in a variety of spots to throw the defense off.

Whether it’s in the slot, on the outside, or in the backfield, Moore has the potential to make life very difficult for the Cardinals’ opponents in 2021. Especially if he’s able to move past Green on the depth chart to take over as Arizona’s No. 2 receiver. Then teams will have to worry about the rookie on more of a play-by-play basis.

The other element that Moore brings to the table that could set him apart from other rookies next season is his return ability.

He has the skills to return both kickoffs and punts at a high level, and if he does both, then it just means more opportunities for him to make a play with the ball in his hands.

Odell Beckham (2014) and Percy Harvin (2009) are the last two wide receivers to end their first years in the NFL as the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. During their rookie seasons, Beckham scored 12 touchdowns and Harvin found the end zone eight times.

If Moore can wind up with at least 10 touchdowns in 2021, which he is totally capable of, then it might be difficult for voters to give the Offensive Rookie of the Year award to someone else.