‘Drove Me Nuts’: Atlanta Falcons WR Rondale Moore Adds Speed, Explosiveness & Former Foe to Raheem Morris

The Atlanta Falcons wanted to add speed and explosiveness to their receiving core this offseason, and former Arizona Cardinals wideout Rondale Moore checks both boxes in resounding fashion.

Jan 7, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rondale Moore (4) runs against / Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

ORLANDO -- Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot’s phone rings and rings, with no answer coming from the other side.

It’s March 14, and Fontenot is in the midst of trading quarterback Desmond Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals.

The phone Fontenot was trying to reach was planted in a gym locker room, out of sight and out of mind from its owner, receiver Rondale Moore, who was working out when Fontenot called.

Unbeknownst to him, Moore was in trade talks. The Cardinals were interested in acquiring Ridder, and the Falcons were interested in adding to their receivers room.

Eventually, Moore returned to his phone, and the Falcons and Cardinals completed a one-for-one swap of Moore and Ridder.

For Fontenot, the moment served as a symbolic start to his relationship with Moore.

“That’s who he is,” Fontenot said Tuesday at the league owners meeting. “He's an obsessive worker.”

Fontenot remembers evaluating Moore in the pre-draft process of 2021, when Moore was selected No. 49 overall by the Arizona Cardinals after three years at Purdue University.

Moore’s work ethic was present then, and it remains visible now. So, too, is his potential as a versatile playmaker who can break games open with the ball in his hands.

But through three professional seasons, Moore has struggled to find consistency. He’s made 135 receptions for 1,201 yards and three touchdowns but is yet to eclipse 450 receiving yards in a season.

Arizona Cardinals receiver Rondale Moore (4) warms up before their game against the Atlanta Falcons / Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY

This past season, he set career-lows with 40 catches for 352 yards and a score but produced a career year on the ground, taking 28 attempts for 178 yards and a touchdown.

That’s the versatility Moore presents offensively. It's also a key reason why he caused headaches for Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, who was the Los Angeles Rams' defensive coordinator for each of the past three years.

And when considering Atlanta's needs and Arizona's roster, Morris identified Moore as a strong fit based on his prior encounters.

“The opportunity presented for us to add speed to our room with a guy that, playing against for the last three years, drove me nuts,” Morris said Tuesday at the league owners meeting.

Moore played five games against Morris and the Rams, catching 21 passes for 192 yards to go along with seven carries for 16 yards. He had one of the best performances of his young career on Nov. 13, 2022, against Los Angeles, posting nine receptions for 94 yards.

Morris has a unique perspective of the challenges Moore presents and the caliber of weapon he can become. He's expected to be primarily a slot receiver who's used in a multitude of ways, maximizing his playmaking skills.

Another way the Falcons envision Moore contributing is within the return game, as Fontenot mentioned him alongside running back Avery Williams and receiver Ray-Ray McCloud as Atlanta's top options.

Fontenot is excited about a lot - the group of returners he's compiled, the explosion Moore brings and the talent that's been added to the receivers position.

He's also committed to adding more across the board, setting his sights on helping Atlanta break its six-year playoff drought.

Ridder never requested a trade; he handled the offseason like a champ, Morris said. But the Falcons had the opportunity to add a unique skill set to their offense, and after Ridder's struggles last season, ultimately decided parting ways was best for all parties.

“I think he'll move on to have a pretty good career with the Arizona Cardinals or wherever else he decides to play but I'm excited for him to get a fresh start,” Morris said. “I'm excited for us to get a fresh start at wideout, get some speed in our room and develop some things.

“I think the trade married well for both of us. I think it fits well for us all.”

Atlanta's receiving core was once filled with big-bodied possession receivers. Fontenot, Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson identified speed and explosiveness as an area that needed help.

And in a sport often predicated on size, the Falcons turned to the 5-7, 180-pound Moore for a solution - and believe they found the right guy for the niche role needed in a new-look receivers room.

“He can fly, man,” Fontenot said. “He can fly.”