Elijah Moore NFL Draft 2021 Prospect Profile & Scouting Report: Potential First-Rounder?

This is The Game Day’s Elijah Moore NFL Draft 2021 Prospect Profile. After you read our Elijah Moore Scouting Report, Marcus Mosher’s first 2021 NFL Mock Draft for Round 1.

Elijah Moore NFL Draft Prospect Profile

Elijah Moore NFL Draft Prospect: Bio & Measurables

• School: Ole Miss
• Class in Final Season: True Junior
• Age on NFL Draft Day: 21
• Height: 5-foot-10
• Weight: 178 lbs.

Elijah Moore Scouting Report

Strengths

• Route-running
• Field navigation – avoids contact
• Possesses wiggle – fluid
• Tracks ball well
• Strong get-off from line of scrimmage
• General health

Knocks

• Undersized
• Lack of play strength
• Struggles after contact
• Limited catch radius
• Fast, but not a burner

Elijah Moore College Career

Elijah Moore was a four-star prospect in 2018. He was ranked as the 203rd-overall high school senior and 38th-best WR. Throughout his college career, he outplayed that ranking by a wide margin and has played himself into a first-round consideration among NFL personalities.

Moore accrued 398 yards on 36 catches with 2 TD in 2018 as a freshman at Ole Miss. He was a part of the same receiving corps as alphas A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf along with future UDFA DaMarkus Lodge and Bills TE Dawson Knox.

Moore produced a large chunk of his stat-line in an 11 catch, 129-yard performance versus South Carolina, a game that ended up a 48-44 shootout. Unfortunately, Metcalf had been ruled out for the season prior to this performance, leaving Moore as the team’s WR3, right behind Lodge. Nevertheless, it is a good sign that he somewhat produced as an 18-year old.

Moore broke out in 2019 with the entire aforementioned receiving group graduated to the NFL. His season wasn’t spectacular on the surface with just 67 catches, 85 receiving yards and 6 TD but when you consider that the next leading receiver, Braylon Sanders, only managed 10 catches for 192 yards and no TD, then Moore’s stat-line looks a LOT more impressive. Moore dominated the receiving usage that season and was the only Ole Miss pass-catcher with double-digit TDs and over 20 receptions.

After this breakout season, Moore continued his dominance into 2020 and in 8 games amassed 86 receptions, 1193 yards and 8 TD. This kind of incrementally increasing production is exactly what you want to see from a top WR prospect. There are very few flaws in Moore’s statistical profile leaving no need for excuses with regards to it. He was so good that he put up three 200-yard games in the dang SEC as a 20-year old Junior. Ridiculous.

Fantasy Football and NFL Outlook

Moore projects as a high-usage slot receiver who makes a QB’s job easier as he will be like 7-11, always open. He will probably be capable of playing outside on occasion but he will struggle to consistently separate versus the size/strength of the NFL’s premier perimeter defensive backs. His best bet would be to be hidden in bunch formation and running wild across the middle of the field and abusing linebackers/safeties.

Moore will struggle to play the sidelines and should not be expected to catch many 50-50 balls or anything requiring a high-point. As long as his future QB aims their throw anywhere below Moore’s helmet, he should be good to reel the ball in.

Expect several triple-digit target seasons for Moore as he becomes a favorite target of any QB who wants an easy, open throw around the line of scrimmage or the open field. Moore is also more than capable of housing a catch or creating chunk yardage with his smarts in traffic and speed.

SCOUTING REPORT- Elijah Moore (WR) Ole Miss
Final Grade- 7.35
Scout-@sbtrey23 https://t.co/wRKU7C1OMA#DraftTwitter #NFLTwitter #NFLDraft #NFL #OleMiss pic.twitter.com/AsSivYP6P1

— BLITZALYTICS (@Blitzalytics) April 15, 2021

NFL Player Comparison

Diontae Johnson. For anyone who follows me on Twitter (@RotoSurgeon), yes, this may seem disprespectful given all of the flack I throw towards Diontae. HOWEVER, if you consider these two players, Moore and Johnson, in size and method of play style, they are eerily similar. Johnson is someone who can create space out of nowhere on the field with how he moves his feet and jukes around his body along with opposing defenders. This trait is undeniable. Johnson is very talented in this regard and will continue to be productive for fantasy purposes as long as Ben Roethlisberger is his QB.

Moore is everything stated (aside from the Big Ben part) with speed to boot, making him a deep threat as well. Johnson plays a little bigger given his ability to occasionally play through contact but that isn’t a particular strength. Moore should be able to put up similar target rates as Johnson with a higher number of yards-per-target.

Elijah Moore Scouting Report: NFL Draft First-Round Team Fits

*As a caveat – I personally would not draft Moore in Round 1 due to the nature of his game and how plentiful slot receivers are across the league but due to the helium he has received in recent months, it is hard to deny that he is likely going to be drafted quite high*

Green Bay Packers

The Packers are in desperate need of a go-to option not just out of the slot, but anywhere in the middle of the field opposite from Davante Adams. Moore is a perfect piece in Green Bay as he will not be tasked with carrying the receiving corps by any means. The Packers have tried and failed to replace Randall Cobb in the slot since his departure. While someone like Marquez Valdes-Scantling did offer a semblance of competence, Moore can provide similar speed, better hands and more versatility rather than simply being a deep threat.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are in flux at the moment with the departure of Drew Brees. The natural assumption is that Jameis Winston will take over the reins as a starter with Taysom Hill filling in to mix things up every now and then, particularly in short-yardage. New Orleans has strayed from typical skill position sets in recent years due to the talent on hand.

Michael Thomas, despite a down 2020, is still a top-tier WR and acts as a safety blanket with his ability to escape coverage in the short-to-intermediate area of the field and his presence allows for the offense to operate how it has. Jared Cook (now a Charger) and Hill were essentially the TD threats while Alvin Kamara acted as the team’s WR2. Tre’Quan Smith, who still has not broken out but possesses immense explosiveness, is still around and likely to be more involved with a stronger-armed QB at the helm.

Adding Moore to this team would allow for more 11-personnel given the lack of a true slot receiver on this roster. Sean Payton can mix and match this with his heavier sets to consistently throw teams off and attack them in a variety of ways.

Elijah Moore NFL Draft Prediction

Round 1, Pick 22: Tennessee Titans

With Corey Davis in New York and Jonnu Smith in New England, the signing of Josh Reynolds will not properly compensate the loss for Tennessee’s receiving room. The Titans are still in desperate need of skill talent and Moore can take on a complementary role alongside alpha, former teammate, A.J. Brown.

Brown may put a good word in with the team to select Moore. Moore in turn would add speed and take the pressure off of Josh Reynolds who can take on more of a natural WR3 role rather than be forced into playing a 2. The Titans still have plenty of needs, especially across the defense, but they should be eyeing WR in Round 1 by all means.

people forget elijah moore has always been a legendpic.twitter.com/QEDFaQvpG6

— Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) April 12, 2021

Now that you’ve read our Elijah Moore Draft Prospect Scouting Report and Elijah Moore 2021 NFL Draft profile, stay tuned for more NFL Draft analysis. Then, after the 2021 NFL Draft, we’ll cover his impact on betting lines, odds, and tips for his NFL team.

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