The Buffalo Bills added some talent and youth to their receiving corps Wednesday, signing free agent Elijah Moore to a one-year deal.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen proved last year he did not need an alpha No. 1 receiver to best showcase his talents on the gridiron. In fact, Allen was better than ever, using an MVP campaign to power another Bills’ run to the AFC Championship.
Allen’s success and the continued progression of the Bills are not necessarily related to Stefon Diggs’ departure, merely just a coincidence of circumstance. In fact, the Bills ended the season in a place all too familiar with a postseason loss to the AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs.
One of the areas of improvement for this group was at wide receiver. Rather than shopping for a big name, it appears Buffalo will rely on the development of the talent they already have on hand.
However, they have finally turned to free agency for one more acquisition. Wednesday, the Bills signed Elijah Moore to a one-year $5 million deal, according to Fox’s Jordan Schultz. Moore is a four-year pro, having spent his last two seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns used the unrestricted free agent tender on Moore though that move was not one that locked him to the franchise.
The interest from Buffalo and Moore has been brewing over the past few days. Bills general manager Brandon Beane has defended the quality of his receiving group – he used a series of “B-words” to do so – but it is clear they were intrigued in signing Moore.
“Elijah Moore is here. He’s a guy we’ve spoken to a few times leading up to the draft and we just kind of put a pin in it, just like we did several other positions and said ‘hey, let’s wait until the draft and see where we’re at, see if he’s still interested,” Beane said this week.
“If we took a guy in the first or second round, he’s probably not too interested. But we didn’t and so, you know, we picked up those conversations over the weekend.”
Is this a backtracking from Beane’s expletive-filled tak?
Sure.
Is that OK?
Moore has combined for 1178 yards on 120 receptions in the last couple of year. Now, he will attempt to carry over that production or perhaps enhance that in Buffalo.
And if he does?
Yes, backtracking is OK.