NFL teams are beginning to shift their focus from the free agency frenzy to the quickly approaching 2021 NFL Draft, and one of the best prospects in the draft could be Elijah Moore. Moore is a 5-foot-9 wide receiver from Ole Miss who has a ton of upside.
There is a lot of uncertainty regarding where Moore could wind up, but he is considered to be one of the best receivers in the entire NFL Draft class. Moore could go as high as the first round, but a day two selection seems to be a bit more likely.
Moore deserves all the attention he is receiving, as he was lights out in his college football career at Ole Miss. In three seasons with Ole Miss, Moore hauled in 189 receptions, 2,441 receiving yards, averaged 12.9 yards per reception, and scored 16 touchdowns through the air. He also ran the ball 21 times for 71 yards in that same span as well.
He is a great receiver to line up in a slot receiver role and he could thrive with an experienced quarterback. Moore’s play style reminds me a lot of Stefon Diggs and he could have just as worthy of a career.
Here’s a look at four teams who should look to select Elijah Moore in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Kansas City Chiefs
The idea of adding another speedy weapon to a Kansas City roster that is already loaded with weapons may seem strange, but that’s exactly what the Chiefs could look to do. Moore has excellent hands, but his size of just 5-foot-9 has been a major reason why teams have him lower on their draft boards.
The Chiefs have seen a lot of their success come from smaller players, so the lack of height likely doesn’t matter much to the Chiefs. Tyreek Hill is under six feet tall and he is one of the best receivers in the league. If you consider Moore’s ability to do a lot of the same things Hill can, he would be more than worth a shot with the 31st overall pick.
Elijah Moore is pure speed and hands and that’s a major reason why he’s garnering so much draft interest as a potential first-round pick. Moore can catch a ball in open space and take it 30 yards up the field in the blink of an eye, which could be lethal for teams trying to game plan against the Chiefs.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are rumored to be in the mix to draft a wide receiver in the upcoming NFL Draft and a solid day two option could be Elijah Moore. Moore has the hands and quickness the Browns are looking for and he could be a steal in the second round if he’s available.
Moore has all the tools to be an elite receiver in the NFL and the Browns could be willing to take a chance on the stealthy receiver. If the Browns addressed a bigger need in the first round and tried to wait on snagging Moore in the second round, then they could snag a steal.
He averaged over 10 receptions and a touchdown per game in 2020 and he could be an elite weapon for the Browns as well. If the Browns made this pick in the second round, they could have the steal of the draft.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints need to address their receiving needs and they could look to snag a steal in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The player they could keep their eyes on as they embark on the draft beyond the first round is Moore.
Moore could slide in the quickly approaching NFL Draft due to his smaller stature, but the Saints would be crazy to pass up on the talented wideout in the second round. If Moore stood at six feet tall, he would be considered a top three receiver in this year’s draft class.
He has a play style that is very similar to that of Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs, and the Saints would benefit from having a player of his caliber to help recreate their receiving unit. The Saints had to let go of Emmanuel Sanders in an effort to create cap space, but they could get a very good replacement in Elijah Moore.
New York Jets
It’s clear as day that the New York Jets are going to be taking a quarterback with the number two overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and they could look to add some weapons to build around him. Zach Wilson is likely going to be the selection for the Jets with the number two overall pick, and the best way to build around a young quarterback is to give him as many weapons as possible.
One weapon they could keep their eye on is none other than Ole Miss receiver Elijah Moore. Moore would give the Jets a speedy take the top off of defenses type of receiving talent, a talent the Jets haven’t had since Robby Anderson. New Jets head coach Rob Saleh has seen a stacked receiving corps from his time in San Francisco, so he certainly understands the value of a loaded receiving unit.
The Jets could look to snag Moore in the first round with the number 23 overall pick or take a chance at snagging him with the second pick of the second round instead. Either way, Moore should certainly be on the Jets’ radar.
