Browns sign $9 million player named a top candidate for cap casualty
The Cleveland Browns are facing a salary cap dilemma going into the offseason, and it seems unlikely that the current team will make it to training camp without losing a few key players along the road.
On Wednesday, January 17, Spencer German of Sports Illustrated created a ranking of Cleveland’s top four salary cap casualty candidates. Elijah Moore, a wide receiver the organization acquired before the 2023 season, was one of them.
Moore, who was traded from the [New York] Jets to Cleveland in late March, had a mixed season. Almost immediately after the Browns revealed their Elijah Moore package during training camp, he was met with enormous expectations. However, the results o
Although they also acquired the Jets’ No. 74 overall selection in the third round, the Browns did forfeit their No. 42 overall pick in the 2023 draft in order to acquire the wide receiver. Moore was therefore acquired for a one-round, 25-spot pick swap rather than a pick with the full value of the second round.
Due to this and the salary cap restrictions Cleveland has (the team is presently $13.86 million in the negative), it makes sense, at the very least, to contemplate trading for a player like Moore in order to save money.
n the field just never seemed to materialize.
Even though they traded for Elijah Moore before of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Browns can justify cutting him.
It’s uncommon, if ever, wise business to bail on a player for less than $2 million in savings in less than a year after giving up a second-round pick to get him. But now that the move is complete, it is much less insulting to consider cutting Moore.
Elijah Moore Has One More Year Left Under Cost Caps Before Entering Free Agency
According to Pro Football Reference, Moore had career highs in targets (104), catches (59), and receiving yards (640) during the previous season, but he wasn’t very important to the Browns’ offensive performance. At the end of the season, he had added two touchdowns and was unquestionably the team’s No. 2 wide receiver option.
To be competitive with the best in the AFC, the Browns would likely need to sign a wide receiver to complement Amari Cooper, if Moore decides to stay in Cleveland. Moore’s four-year, $9 million rookie contract is set to expire in 2024, so he will continue to be a fairly priced slot receiver through that point.
When Moore becomes available for free agency in March 2025, it is likely that he will seek a significant increase on a multiyear contract. This could signal the end of Moore’s Cleveland career anyhow, as the Browns will be operating under cap constraints for the next three seasons, or until quarterback Deshaun Watson’s $230 million, five-year contract expires.
