Elijah Moore trade: Jets send WR to Browns, per reports

The New York Jets are trading wide receiver Elijah Moore and a 2023 3rd round draft pick to the Cleveland Browns for a 2023 2nd round pick, per Ian Rapoport. Moore requested a trade in the 2022 regular season, and it has finally been granted.

Moore played in 16 games last season, missing one due to the trade request and his public comments about being unhappy in New York. He finished the season catching 37 of his 65 targets for 446 yards and a touchdown. The Jets are reported to be making moves to try and woo a trade for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. While there was suspicion that Moore could be included in a trade package, New York now has back-to-back second round picks which could be used to acquire Rodgers or to continue improving their team.

Moore was lost in a sea of wide receivers in New York. Ahead of his trade to Cleveland, the Jets signed former Kansas City Chiefs wideout Mecole Hardman to a one-year deal. This put Moore behind Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis, Allen Lazard and then Hardman. For the Browns, he projects to be only behind starter Amari Cooper. Moore will provide another weapon for his new quarterback Deshaun Watson.

New York finds itself with a competent offense other than at quarterback. Breece Hall should be back in the backfield, and Wilson plus some combination of Davis, Lazard and Hardman, are set up for success in the passing game. The Jets could still make some moves, like trading away Davis and using one of these draft picks to shore up other areas of need. For now, for fantasy, Hall and Wilson should be fantasy relevant, but it will take seeing a few weeks of the offense to determine that for Lazard (if no Rodgers) and Hardman.

Cleveland gets a big boost in the receiver department. Cooper was already going to be in line for another productive year, but the receiver options following him were bleak. Donovan Peoples-Jones did his best to be relevant in PPR formats, and the presence of Moore could actually help him out. Moore will likely slot in as a top-30 WR with the move, giving him flex appeal as long as he gets on the same page with Watson.

  
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