Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre鈥橠avious White has a good pulse on the team now that he鈥檚 returned.
When asked recently at the Bills organized team activities about players he鈥檚 noticed who have taken a step while he was gone, White did bring up one newcomer: wide receiver Elijah Moore.
鈥淓lijah Moore, like he鈥檚 gonna be a big-time player for us, too,鈥 White said at last week鈥檚 OTAs. 鈥淟ike route running is amazing, getting in and out, his brakes is amazing. So, like that鈥檚 a guy that鈥檚 gonna make the defensive backs better, too.鈥
Bills wide receiver Elijah Moore catches a pass during practice at One Bills Drive on Tuesday.
Moore joined the Bills on a one-year contract in May. Now that OTAs are here, he鈥檚 getting a chance to build rapport with his new teammates.
In his career, with stops with the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns after playing collegiately at Ole Miss, the 25-year-old Moore had yet to play with a quarterback of Allen鈥檚 caliber. So, what鈥檚 it like catching a pass from the MVP?
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鈥淚t felt great,鈥 Moore said. 鈥淗e threw me a pass last week, and all I could do was smile, yeah. It just felt so seamlessly and just fluid.鈥
Moore considers himself an extremely positive person. It鈥檚 something he brought up multiple times during his first news conference with Buffalo media, and it鈥檚 something important he thinks he鈥檚 bringing to the locker room.
In that locker room, he鈥檚 finding the kind of relationships he鈥檚 been seeking in the NFL.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a brotherhood that is very, very tight-knit and close, and you can鈥檛 fake it, you know, when you come in,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been on two other teams, and we鈥檝e all been close, but this has taken time. But (here), they welcomed me in as soon as I came. So, it鈥檚 just nothing but a blessing for me.鈥
The bonds happen quickly in Buffalo, an important aspect of team culture. Moore saw that happen, and he knows it translates to the field.
鈥淥f course, you want a team and to go into situations where everybody kind of just is easygoing,鈥 Moore said. 鈥淎nd this team, they鈥檙e not faking being close, they actually are very, very close, and credit to why 鈥 that鈥檚 why they win.鈥
Then-Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore runs after a catch against the Lions in 2022. He spent his first two NFL seasons with the Jets, making 80 receptions for 984 yards.
Part of why Moore is getting close quickly is from his time spent at the facility. Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady has seen it up close as the wide receiver works to play anywhere on the field.
鈥淵ou get a guy like Elijah. I feel like he鈥檚 living here, wanting to just kind of embody it,鈥 Brady said. 鈥淧lay inside, play outside. Figure out, hey, what can he, what is Josh thinking on these plays? What鈥檚 the why? Elijah, we鈥檙e from the same area (growing up in Florida), so I鈥檝e been following him, I feel like his whole career. And it鈥檚 been really cool of just seeing his approach, his demeanor, a guy that doesn鈥檛 speak much, but just kind of works.鈥
The key to Moore is being consistent in his approach.
鈥淛ust do my job,鈥 Moore said. 鈥淲hatever, whenever my number鈥檚 called, to be the best version of myself.鈥
