Elijah Moore saw what the Buffalo Bills were doing 鈥 first from afar, then as he dove deeper into his research.
As a free agent this offseason, the veteran wide receiver was especially drawn to how far the Bills have been going in the playoffs and how they鈥檙e doing it.
鈥淎nd if I could be a part of something special like that, why not run towards it?鈥 Moore said.
Moore officially signed his one-year deal with Buffalo on Monday after having visited the facility last week.
Then-New York Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore runs after a catch against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. Moore spent his first two NFL seasons with the Jets, making 80 total receptions for 984 yards.
This is the wide receiver鈥檚 third team in five years. He was drafted 34th overall by the New York Jets and spent his first two NFL seasons with the club before the Jets traded him to the Cleveland Browns. He understands how that may look from the outside, but his inner resolve to improve remains strong.
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鈥淚t definitely wasn鈥檛 something easy to come across,鈥 Moore said of the opportunity with the Bills. 鈥淎 lot of praying, a lot of hoping that the right situation opened up, that made sense 鈥 because at the end of the day ... this will be my third team. And just the stigma that kind of goes around. I know who I am. I know what I stand for.鈥
Across his four pro seasons, Moore has 200 catches for 2,162 yards and nine touchdowns. He joins a team that had a need for at least one more receiver.
The Bills bring back Khalil Shakir, who led the team in targets (100), catches (76) and yards (821); second-year pro Keon Coleman, whose rookie season got off to a decent start but dipped in production after his return from a wrist injury; and Curtis Samuel, who was something of a disappointment in his first year in Buffalo but figures to have a greater impact this season.
The Bills added fifth-year pro Joshua Palmer in free agency from the Chargers, and they used a seventh-round draft pick last month on receiver Kaden Prather.
Moore鈥檚 61 receptions with Cleveland last season were a career high.
Moore has speed 鈥 at the 2022 NFL combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds 鈥 but he has not often been a deep threat in the NFL. Lining up nearly equally outside and in the slot, he averaged just 8.8 yards per catch last season with the Browns.
As he gears up to join his new team, Moore was asked about his role with the Bills wide receiver room.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really just like an 鈥榚arn it鈥 thing,鈥 Moore said. 鈥淚 feel like, when you play football, you can鈥檛 just promise anything to anyone.鈥
Former Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore warms up before a game against the Chargers on Nov. 3 in Cleveland. Moore, who had a career-high 61 catches last season, signed his one-year deal with the Bills on Monday.
This much is clear: Moore has never played with a quarterback like reigning MVP Josh Allen. In his time with the Jets and the Browns, Moore caught touchdown passes from quarterbacks Mike White, Josh Johnson, Joe Flacco, Zach Wilson, Deshaun Watson and Jameis Winston.
鈥淪o, I just feel like having being blessed with opportunity to, God willing, have (No.) 17 for the entire season 鈥 the MVP at that; a top-tier caliber player, top-tier caliber team, top-tier caliber coaches, putting you in position 鈥 I feel like it would just be the best position that I鈥檝e been put in yet.鈥
Moore considers himself explosive and a hard worker. He looks to bring a positive mindset to the locker room, while also learning from veteran leaders on the team.
He knows what others may make of his team-hopping, but he also knows the ultimate goal in the NFL.
鈥淎t the end of the day, no one cares about what circumstances you had,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey just Google your name. 鈥 It鈥檚 either you won, or you lost.
鈥淪o, I just want to be a part of something special. I want to add to it. I want to bring more light to it. And I just feel like I can do that, and I鈥檓 a good fit for it. It鈥檚 not just something that I feel like I鈥檓 just saying, it鈥檚 something that I truly believe.鈥
