The Cincinnati Bengals had (and in some ways continue to have) an eventful offseason. With significant roster moves and a focus on returning to AFC contention, it’s easy to miss the smaller, under-the-radar additions. To that end there is one unnoticed addition that could become a massive find. And that is undrafted rookie wide receiver Jordan Moore out of Duke.
So why makes this UDFA such a massive find? First, you have to understand the fit. Everyone knows Joe Burrow is absolutely incredible, especially when paired with star receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. In fact, Burrow finished second in 2024 (according to PFF) in terms of passing grade and in passer rating. But it wasn’t all perfect for the Bengals gunslinger. On throws of 20+ yards, Burrow ranked outside the top five in both passer rating (eighth) and deep passing grade (seventh).
Joe Burrow clearly isn’t the issue here. The problem lies in the supporting cast. While the offensive line shoulders some of the blame, the receiving corps deserves its fair share. Now Chase and Higgins are good (obviously), but teams will roll safeties or outright double team them to limit the big play threat. In most cases that would free up other players to make big plays. But that wasn’t present in the Bengals offense last year. They clearly need a true vertical threat who can win deep balls in one on one opportunities. And that’s exactly what Jordan Moore is.
Moore may not have arrived in Cincinnati with glitzy draft-day buzz but his skillset is precisely what the Bengals need. And since the Bengals already have premium capital tied up in Chase and Higgins, Cincinnati needed a receiver who could stretch defenses vertically without stretching the salary cap. What better bargain is an UDFA?
So let’s evaluate this young receiver’s stats. Moore’s average “yards at catch” (Y/REC minus YAC, an indication of deep ball proficiency) ranked above some of the most hyped rookie receivers in the 2025 draft, including two first-rounders, Tetairoa McMillan and Matthew Golden.
Another stat to highlight is Moore’s “big play efficiency” (Yards at Catch/ Average Depth Of Target). In this, Moore was not far behind the top prospects in the draft, and actually better than some. If you factor in efficiency with raw production, Moore’s profile sits right in the conversation with the best big-play rookies of 2025.
For undrafted free agents, having one elite NFL-ready skill is often the ticket to a roster spot. Moore checks that box as a pure deep threat. If he can show it consistently in training camp and preseason, he has a real chance to make the 53-man roster and carve out a role as the new WR3 or deep sub-package weapon. And with the Bengals intent on maximizing their Super Bowl window without overspending at wide receiver, a breakout from Moore could be the ultimate salary cap victory.
The Bengals need a cheap vertical playmaker. Starters like Chase and Higgins dominate cap space and targets, and third-year wideout Andrei Iosivas while promising, hasn’t brought big-play consistency. Moore doesn’t need to be a Day 1 starter. He just needs to threaten defenses when called upon. If the defense doubles Chase and Higgins, Moore’s field-stretching could create one-on-one matchups Joe Burrow can exploit.
Disclaimer: The content of this article was originally published as a YouTube video on the Saturday Morning Inspection YouTube channel. With AI assistance, the publisher of the video created this article based on the content of that video.
