The Buffalo Bills pulled off a sneaky steal this offseason, snagging wide receiver Elijah Moore from the Cleveland Browns on a one-year, $5 million deal as a restricted free agent. For the reigning AFC East champs, it’s a low-risk, high-reward move that could supercharge their passing game. Moore, a former second-round pick (No. 34 overall in 2021), had his pick of suitors thanks to Cleveland’s non-exclusive tender, but he chose Buffalo—and it wasn’t for the wings or the snowy winters. In an interview with WKBW’s Matthew Bové, Moore made it clear: Josh Allen was the dealmaker. With a quarterback like No. 17 slinging the ball, Moore’s ready to revive his career and prove he’s more than a slot guy. Let’s break down why Moore picked Buffalo, how Allen’s star power sealed the deal, and what this means for a Bills team eyeing a Super Bowl run in 2025.
Moore’s decision to join the Bills wasn’t about flashy contracts or Buffalo’s famous food scene—it was about faith and opportunity. “It was very, very easy,” Moore told Bové. “I leave all of my decision-making to the Lord, but everywhere I went, literally, you can ask my wife, you see 17 jerseys.” That’s Josh Allen’s number, and it’s no coincidence. Allen’s 2024 season was a masterclass: 4,306 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, and a second-place finish in NFL MVP voting, leading Buffalo to a 12-5 record and their fifth straight AFC East title. His 6-foot-5 frame, rocket arm, and knack for extending plays (561 rushing yards, seven TDs) make him a receiver’s dream. Moore, who’s caught passes from the likes of Zach Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson in his career, knows what it’s like to play with inconsistent QB play. Allen, a two-time Pro Bowler who’s thrown for 22,284 yards and 167 TDs since 2018, is a massive upgrade. “He’s a phenomenal player,” Moore said, “and from what I’ve heard around the building and even around the league, he’s an even more phenomenal person.”
That last part matters. Moore’s been through the wringer—traded from the Jets to the Browns in 2023, stuck in a run-heavy Cleveland offense, and battling for targets with Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy. His 2024 stat line (59 catches, 573 yards, four TDs) was solid but unspectacular, a far cry from the 1,000-yard potential he flashed at Ole Miss, where he racked up 1,193 yards and eight TDs in 2020. In Buffalo, he’s joining a locker room led by Allen, whose work ethic and leadership have teammates like Dawson Knox calling him “the heartbeat of this team.” Moore’s heard the stories—Allen staying late to study film, hyping up rookies, even shoveling snow at Highmark Stadium before a playoff game. “It’s not hard to get behind that,” Moore said, and you can feel his excitement about catching passes from a guy who posted a 104.7 passer rating in 2024.
So, what’s Moore’s role in Buffalo? The Bills’ receiver room is crowded with flanker/slot types—Khalil Shakir (65 catches, 786 yards in 2024), Curtis Samuel (44 catches, 458 yards), and rookie Keon Coleman (38 catches, 546 yards)—but none have Moore’s upside. At 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, with 4.35 speed, he’s a shifty route-runner who can play inside or out. His 2023 season with the Browns (2.29 yards per route run, per PFF) showed he can separate, and his 80.6% catch rate in 2024 was tops among Cleveland’s wideouts. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who dialed up 365.8 yards per game last year, loves versatile weapons, and Moore’s 114 career catches for 1,383 yards and nine TDs suggest he can be a chain-mover. Think Cole Beasley with more juice—quick slants, choice routes, and the occasional deep shot (he had a 55-yard TD in 2023). Posts on X are buzzing, with one Bills fan predicting “800 yards and six TDs” and another calling Moore “the missing piece for a deep playoff run.”
The catch? Moore’s got to earn his targets. Shakir’s chemistry with Allen is rock-solid, and Coleman’s 6-foot-3 frame makes him a red-zone threat. Samuel’s speed stretches defenses, and tight end Dalton Kincaid (70 catches, 723 yards) is a safety valve. Moore’s one-year deal screams “prove it,” and his 3.7% drop rate in 2024 (four drops on 107 targets) needs to tighten up. The Bills’ 2024 passing game leaned on efficiency (7.8 yards per attempt, third in the NFL), not volume (33.1 attempts per game, 18th), so Moore’s got to make every rep count. His 2021 Jets tape—43 catches for 538 yards as a rookie—shows he can handle a bigger role, but Cleveland’s run-first scheme capped him at 3.9 catches per game. Buffalo’s up-tempo attack, which spread 252 receptions among wideouts last year, gives him a shot to shine.
Why Buffalo? Beyond Allen, it’s the fit. The Bills are all-in for 2025, with GM Brandon Beane adding edge-rusher Greg Rousseau’s extension and drafting South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders to bolster the front. Their 2024 playoff loss to Kansas City (27-24 in the divisional round) stung, but with James Cook’s 1,122 rushing yards and a defense that allowed just 19.8 points per game, they’re a contender. Moore’s familiarity with cold weather—Cleveland’s no tropical paradise—helps, and Buffalo’s fanbase, which packed Highmark with 70,000 screaming diehards for every game, matches his energy. “I’m a dawg,” Moore said in a 2023 Browns presser, and that chip-on-the-shoulder mentality fits a team that’s been knocking on the Super Bowl door.
There’s risk, of course. Moore’s never topped 600 yards in a season, and his 5.6 yards per target in 2024 was pedestrian. If he can’t carve out a role, he could be stuck as a WR4, especially with Beane eyeing more receiver help (rumors swirl about Colorado’s Travis Hunter in 2026). But the upside’s huge. Allen’s thrown for 4,000-plus yards in four straight seasons, and his 2024 deep ball (11.1 yards per completion on 20-plus-yard throws) could unlock Moore’s big-play ability. PFF’s 78.2 receiving grade for Moore in 2023 suggests he’s close to a breakout, and Brady’s scheme—think quick-hitting routes and play-action—plays to his strengths.
For Bills Mafia, Moore’s signing is a reason to get loud. He’s not Stefon Diggs, who left for Houston in 2024, but his speed and hunger could fill that void. If he clicks with Allen, 70 catches and 900 yards aren’t out of reach, especially with defenses keying on Kincaid and Cook. Moore’s betting on himself, and Buffalo’s betting on him to push them over the hump. As one X post put it, “Elijah Moore with Josh Allen? Good luck covering that.” Grab your popcorn, Buffalo—this could be the start of something special. Let’s go, Bills!
