CLEVELAND, OH – One week after being acquired from the New York Jets for the 42nd overall pick in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft, Elijah Moore could be the x-factor on offense that the Cleveland Browns have been looking for?
Moore, a 5’10 178-pound fast, sure-handed, and speedy wideout out of Ole Miss, caught 37 passes for 446 yards and one touchdown after catching 43 passes for 538 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games for the Jets in his rookie season back in 2021.
With the addition of Moore, Cleveland suddenly boasts a solid trio at wide receiver with Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones and himself, along with tight end David Njoku, adds some much-needed speed and is a solid No.2 option across from Cooper, which should open up things offensively against opposing defenses.
Since their disappointing 7-10 season ended, fans of the Cleveland Browns have bemoaned the front office to add and acquire a big-time player at WR.
Names such as Deandre Hopkins, Odell Beckham were naturally atop the wish list of many, but out of the price range of the Browns who addressed more pressing needs on the defensive line and secondary in adding S Juan Thornhill, DT Dalvin Tomlinson and DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.
Is Moore that guy? Is he the one who will take the top off of defenses? Time will tell, but both sides got major upgrades as Moore went from catching passes from Zach Wilson to Deshaun Watson, while the Browns added a potentially explosive target for their $230 million dollar signal caller.
Moore was not properly utilized in New York and suffered from dealing with a inconsistent borderline bust at QB to a team with a borderline top five one, with an elite offensive line and one of the NFL’s best route runners in Cooper.
Did I fail to mention that in addition to having one of the league’s premier backs in Nick Chubb, how much safeties and linebackers will have to honor a Watson play-action fake, only to see Moore already downfield celebrating a potential touchdown on them?
Yes. Cleveland won this trade, hands down. Period.
With the addition of Moore, tight end Jordan Akins and veteran wideout Marquise Goodwin, Cleveland’s offense looks a lot more respectable than it did a week ago.
While their newest additions preclude the Browns from taking another WR in the draft, at least not the team and fans can rest a bit easier knowing that they addressed a glaring need on offense, and that the time for excuses is over in Berea.