New York Jets trade third-year WR Elijah Moore to Cleveland Browns for 2nd round pick

The New York Jets have traded receiver Elijah Moore to the Cleveland Browns for the 42nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. The Browns also receive the 74th overall pick as part of the deal.

A former second-round selection in 2021, Moore has spent the past two seasons with the Jets. He finished his rookie season with 43 catches for 538 yards and five touchdowns to lead the team. This past year he recorded 37 catches for 446 yards and a touchdown.

An Ole Miss product, Moore spent three seasons with the Rebels from 2018-20. He finished his college career with 189 receptions for 2,441 yards and 16 touchdowns. His best year came in 2020 when he posted 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns in his lone season under Lane Kiffin.

Elijah Moore joins a Browns team that is coming off of a 7-10 finish this past season. He’ll team up with quarterback Deshaun Watson, who led Cleveland to a 3-3 record over the final six games of 2022 after serving an 11-game suspension.

Moore will battle with Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones in the receivers room for targets. Cooper is coming off his fourth 1,000-yard season in the past five years while People-Jones had a career-best season in 2022 with 61 catches for 839 yards and three touchdowns.

What the Elijah Moore trade means for the Jets

The Jets now own three top 50 draft picks as a result of the trade. They also have the 13th and 43rd overall picks, and it is speculate at least some of those assets could be used in a trade for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The four-time MVP said last week that his intention is to play in New York. Now the rest of the NFL world awaits as Green Bay and the Jets attempt to work out a deal to send him there.

In the meantime, the Jets have made several moves to bolster their receiving corps in light of the news. On the same day that the Elijah Moore trade was announced, New York signed former Kansas City Chiefs wideout Mecole Hardman. They also signed Rodgers’ Packers teammate Allen Lazard to a four-year deal earlier this offseason.

Additionally, the Jets bring back last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, who finished with 83 catches for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns. All that in mind, they appear to be gearing up for a playoff push after finishing 7-10 last season.