Speedy NFL Weapon Leaves Minnesota to See about a Deal in Chicago
Rondale Moore, a speedy NFL weapon, must not have received the contract offer he was hoping for from the Vikings.
His tour through free agency continues as he moves onto the Windy City to see what the Bears have to offer. The update arrives courtesy of The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport: “FA WR Rondale Moore, who visited the #Vikings last week, is visiting the #Bears today, per me and @MikeGarafolo.”
Speedy NFL Receiver an Option for Vikings & Bears
Losing a coveted player stings. Losing a coveted player to a divison rival stings even more.
Ben Johnson is now the head coach of the Chicago Bears. For good reason, many are expecting Caleb Williams to take a large step forward. He already has D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze as excellent players, so adding Moore would simply be another step forward for an offense with lots of potential.
From Moore’s perspective, one can certainly see the appeal.
Start off with the rival coach. Johnson is tremendously creative, leading the Lions’ offense to a 1st-place finish in the NFL last season by averaging a stunning 33.2 points per game. He balances the run and the pass, demonstrating a strong understanding of how to magnify player strengths. Goodness, even right tackle Penei Sewell is a playmaker with Johnson in charge. Johnson, in short, is brilliant (at least as an OC; we’ll see how he does as a HC).
The guy who is calling the shots in Minnesota isn’t too bad, though.
In fact, one could argue that Kevin O’Connell is one of the game’s best offensive minds. He gets the best out of his quarterbacks, pushing Kirk Cousins, Josh Dobbs, and Sam Darnold to the best version of themselves. His weapons thrive and he’s been improving when it comes to making the ground game more dangerous. Players really enjoy working under O’Connell’s leadership.
Last week, the news emerged about Rondale Moore visiting the Vikings. Consider some of what Janik Eckardt had to say: “Moore is only 24 years old. He arrived in the NFL in 2021 when the Cardinals selected him in the second round with the 49th overall pick, which is quite high for a small receiver like him.”
Eckardt continues: “Moore spent three seasons in Arizona, recording 435 yards in his rookie season, followed by 414 yards in his second campaign, and 352 yards in 2023. He registered one receiving touchdown in each season. In addition, Moore rushed for 249 yards and another score in that tenure. His quickness can be used in a plethora of ways; classifying him as a true receiver perhaps isn’t the right way.”
The proud owner of 4.28 speed — blisteringly fast, even in the NFL where everyone is fast — Moore can do damage in a hurry. One could certainly envision a world where he’s a yards-after-the-catch menace, especially in an offense that boasts talent like the Vikings’ and the Bears’.
Keep in mind, as well, that he has some history as a punt returner. Currently, Minnesota is looking for a solution at that precise spot.
In his career, Rondale Moore has made close to $7 million. Presumably, the team that gives him a chance to make good money in 2025 while also committing to featuring him prominently — so that he can command more money on a future deal — is going to win the sweepstakes.
For whatever it’s worth, the Vikings received top-notch marks yet again from the NFLPA report card. Maybe that helps to move Moore in Minnesota’s direction.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on social media (Bluesky & Twitter). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.
