Ole Miss Rebels wide receiver Ole Miss Elijah Moore is looking to follow in the footsteps of his former teammates in A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf, who were drafted within the first two rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Moore walked onto campus as a true freshman in 2018 and joined an offense that had the likes of Jordan Ta’amu, A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf, DaMarkus Lodge, and Dawson Knox at tight end. The 5-foot-10 wide out produced 36 receptions for 358 yards and two touchdowns. He also played a considerable amount on special teams with 222 kick return yards and 34 punt return yards.
With Brown, Metcalf, Lodge, and Knox all moving onto the NFL, it was time for Moore to step up as the team’s best receiving option. The former four-start recruit from Florida did not disappoint in that aspect. Moore had 67 receptions for 850 yards and six touchdowns, which ranked him seventh in the SEC.
For an encore performance in 2020, Moore broke A.J. Brown’s school receptions record and received numerous awards/accolades. The 5-foot-11 wide receiver produced 86 receptions for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games played. Moore’s 1,193 receiving yards put him second in the SEC and seventh in the NCAA. He ultimately opted out the rest of this season, but still was named to the first-team All-Associated Press and first-team All-SEC.
Scouting Report
Moore is a playmaking wide receiver that could make a noticeable impact in the NFL as a rookie this upcoming season. The 5-foot-10 wide receiver has deceptive speed when you watch him on TV/video highlights, which he uses to get behind the defense. Moore can line up either inside or outside. But with him only being 5-foot-10, he might be pushed towards the slot in the NFL.
Along those same lines, Moore’s size is not a deterrent as he isn’t afraid to catch passes in traffic or go over the middle of the field. He’s also a solid route runner and is deadly when running the sluggo. The 5-foot-10 wideout isn’t the most explosive compared to the other receivers in the class, but can make a splash with the football in his hands.
Mock Draft landing spots
If there is a crazy run on wide receivers to start the 2021 NFL Draft, then Moore could be drafted either towards the backend of the first round or early in the second round. Mock drafts have the 5-foot-10 wide receiver being selected by the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, and New Orleans Saints. All those teams have picks later in the first round.
Fantasy impact: Rookie year
Moore could end up having a successful and productive rookie year, if he lands in a situation, where he can be a WR2/WR3. When it comes to fantasy football, he might be a late-round draft pick and a high priority waiver wire add. He has the ability to make game-changing plays and really give defense something else to think about. We could see him be in the discussion as a consistent FLEX play this upcoming season.
Fantasy impact: Career
As it is with every NFL Draft, it’s all about fit and how the team uses you. If Moore gets drafted by the Ravens or Packers for example, then he will get the opportunity to succeed. Baltimore needs another playmaker opposite of Marquise Brown, while Aaron Rodgers will definitely take another weapon on offense. Moore could end up becoming what A.J. Brown has become with the Titans. Brown is a dynamic WR1 and is a must start in fantasy football every week, despite his team being dependent on the running game.