Elijah Moore
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Elijah Moore
| image = Elijah Moore Browns 2023 Camp (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Moore with the Cleveland Browns in 2023
| current_team = Buffalo Bills
| number = 18
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|3|27}}
| birth_place = Sunrise, Florida, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lb = 180
| high_school = St. Thomas Aquinas {{nowrap|(Fort Lauderdale, Florida)}}
| college = Ole Miss (2018–2020)
| draftyear = 2021
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 34
| pastteams =
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2021}}–{{NFL Year|2022}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2023|2024}})
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- Consensus All-American (2020)
- First-team All-SEC (2020)
- Conerly Trophy (2020)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 200
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 2,162
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 9
| statlabel4 = Rushing yards
| statvalue4 = 71
| statlabel5 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue5 = 1
}}
Elijah Danilo Moore (born March 27, 2000) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ole Miss and was selected by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Early life
Moore grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School. As a senior, Moore caught 28 passes for 407 yards and five touchdowns and was named an Under Armour All-American.{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=David |date=December 20, 2017 |title=4-Star Moore Flips To Rebels From Georgia |url=https://247sports.com/college/ole-miss/Article/Ole-Miss-Football-4-Star-Wide-Receiver-Moore-Flips-To-Rebels-From-Georgia-112507587/ |access-date=September 27, 2020 |website=247Sports.com}} He was rated a four-star recruit and originally committed to play college football at Georgia over 33 other scholarship offers.{{Cite web |date=August 15, 2017 |title=Speedy Florida WR Elijah Moore commits to Georgia |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2017/elijah-moore-st-thomas-aquinas-georgia-football-recruiting |access-date=September 27, 2020 |website=USA Today}} Moore changed his commitment to Ole Miss in December of his senior year.{{Cite web |last=Furones |first=David |date=December 20, 2017 |title=Elijah Moore provides Early Signing Period flip at St. Thomas Aquinas |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/highschool/recruiting/fl-sp-early-signing-aquinas-20171220-story.html |access-date=September 27, 2020 |website=Sun-Sentinel}}
College career
As a true freshman, Moore caught 36 passes for 398 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Ripee |first=Brian |date=September 10, 2019 |title=Moore making sure Ole Miss passing game continues to thrive |url=https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/moore-making-sure-ole-miss-passing-game-continues-194248709--ncaaf.html |access-date=September 27, 2020 |website=Yahoo Sports |publisher=Associated Press}}{{Cite web |last=Spencer |first=Adam |date=August 14, 2019 |title=Ole Miss WR Elijah Moore ready to step up after Rebels lost A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf and DaMarkus Lodge to NFL |url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/ole-miss-football/ole-miss-wr-elijah-moore-ready-to-step-up-after-rebels-lost-a-j-brown-d-k-metcalf-and-damarkus-lodge-to-nfl/ |access-date=September 27, 2020 |website=SaturdaysDownSouth.com}} As a sophomore, he led the Rebels with 67 receptions, 850 receiving yards and six touchdown catches.{{Cite web |last=Buckley |first=Clint |date=June 8, 2020 |title=Ole Miss' Elijah Moore among top returning slot WR's |url=https://247sports.com/Article/Ole-Miss-Rebels-Football-Elijah-Moore-among-nations-top-returning-slot-receivers-in-2020-147982220/ |access-date=September 27, 2020 |website=247Sports.com}} In the 2019 Egg Bowl against Mississippi State, Moore drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for pretending to be a dog urinating in the end zone following the touchdown. As a result, the extra point attempt went from being a 20-yard attempt to a 35-yard attempt, which was missed as Ole Miss lost 21–20.{{Cite web |last=Thamel |first=Pete |author-link=Pete Thamel |date=November 29, 2019 |title=All jokes aside, Elijah Moore's 'pee' celebration was an all-time sports blunder |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/all-pee-jokes-aside-elijah-moores-celebration-blunder-will-go-down-in-history-192318250.html |access-date=September 27, 2020 |website=Yahoo Sports}}{{Cite web |last=VanHaaren |first=Tom |date=November 29, 2019 |title=Ole Miss, WR Elijah Moore apologize for urinating dog celebration |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/28189413/ole-miss-wr-elijah-moore-apologize-urinating-dog-celebration |access-date=September 27, 2020 |website=ESPN.com}} The loss led Ole Miss to fire head coach Matt Luke.{{Cite web |last=Russo |first=Ralph |date=December 1, 2019 |title=Ole Miss fires coach Matt Luke after 3 seasons, 15-21 record |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/ap-source-ole-miss-fires-luke-seasons-15-67426468 |access-date=December 3, 2021 |website=ABCNews.com}}
Moore entered his junior season on the watchlist for the Biletnikoff Award.{{Cite magazine |last=Gabler |first=Nate |date=July 16, 2020 |title=Ole Miss' Elijah Moore Lands on Biletnikoff Award Watch List |url=https://www.si.com/college/olemiss/football/ole-miss-elijah-moore-lands-on-biletnikoff-award-watch-list |access-date=September 27, 2020 |magazine=SI.com}}{{Cite web |last=Suss |first=Nick |date=September 26, 2020 |title=Elijah Moore: 5 things to know about Ole Miss Rebels wide receiver |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2020/09/26/elijah-moore-5-things-know-ole-miss-rebels-wide-receiver/5838583002/ |access-date=September 27, 2020 |website=The Clarion-Ledger}} In the season opener against Florida, Moore caught ten passes for 227 yards, the second most in a game in school history.{{Cite web |last=Alford |first=Parrish |date=September 26, 2020 |title=Career day for WR Moore |url=https://www.djournal.com/sports/college/notebook-career-day-for-wr-moore/article_7c836c53-1c60-5746-8494-784e859d1437.html |access-date=September 27, 2020 |website=Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal}} He set a new school record for receiving yards in a game with 238 while also tying the Ole Miss game records for receptions with 14 and touchdown catches with three on October 31, 2020, in a 54–21 win over Vanderbilt.{{Cite web |last=Suss |first=Nick |date=November 1, 2020 |title='Smooth just like butter': Ole Miss WR Elijah Moore sets records against Vanderbilt |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2020/11/01/elijah-moore-topples-ole-miss-football-records-against-vanderbilt/6011698002/ |access-date=November 16, 2020 |website=The Clarion-Ledger}} Moore finished the season with a school-record 86 receptions for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games played before opting out before the Rebels' final regular season game in order to begin preparing for the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Cobb |first=David |date=December 17, 2020 |title=Ole Miss star receiver Elijah Moore to forgo senior season after breakout year for the Rebels |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/2021-nfl-draft-ole-miss-star-receiver-elijah-moore-to-forgo-senior-season-after-breakout-year-for-the-rebels/ |access-date=January 9, 2021 |website=CBSSports.com}} Moore was named first-team All-SEC and was a consensus first-team All-America selection as well a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=David |date=December 31, 2020 |title=More All-America honors for Elijah Moore |url=https://247sports.com/college/ole-miss/Article/Ole-Miss-Football-More-All-America-honors-for-Elijah-Moore-158136095/ |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=247Sports}}
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | |||||
| colspan="7" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Ole Miss Rebels}}" | Ole Miss Rebels | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="4"| Receiving | |||||
| Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2018
| 11 || 36 || 398 || 11.1 || 2 | |||||
| 2019
| 12 || 67 || 850 || 12.7 || 6 | |||||
| 2020
| 8 || 86 || 1,193 || 13.9 || 8 | |||||
| [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/elijah-moore-1.html Career] | 31 | 189 | 2,441 | 12.9 | 16 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 9 1/2
| weight = 178
| dash = 4.35
| ten split = 1.57
| twenty split = 2.57
| shuttle = 4.00
| cone drill = 6.67
| vertical = 36.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 1
| bench = 17
| arm span = 30 1/8
| hand span = 9 3/8
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=Elijah Moore, Mississippi, WR, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1027947&DraftYear=2021 |access-date=September 26, 2021 |website=draftscout.com}}
}}
=New York Jets=
Moore was selected by the New York Jets in the second round (34th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Lange |first=Randy |date=April 30, 2021 |title=Jets, at Top of Round 2, Take 'Dynamic' Ole Miss WR Elijah Moore |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/elijah-moore-nfl-draft-wide-receiver-ole-miss |access-date=May 7, 2021 |website=NewYorkJets.com |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023084029/https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/elijah-moore-nfl-draft-wide-receiver-ole-miss |url-status=dead }} On July 21, 2021, Moore signed his four-year rookie contract with the Jets, worth $8.94 million.{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Ben |date=July 21, 2021 |title=Jets Sign Second-Round WR Elijah Moore |url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2021/07/jets-sign-second-round-wr-elijah-moore |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=Pro Football Rumors |language=en-US}}
Moore entered his rookie season as a starting wide receiver. He scored his first career touchdown in a breakout game in Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts, recording seven catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts - November 4th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202111040clt.htm |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In Week 11, he had eight catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Miami Dolphins at New York Jets - November 21st, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202111210nyj.htm |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He suffered a quad injury in Week 13 and was placed on injured reserve on December 11, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Greenberg |first=Ethan |date=December 11, 2021 |title=Jets Place WR Elijah Moore on IR, Activate CB Brandin Echols Off IR |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-place-wr-elijah-moore-on-ir-activate-cb-brandin-echols-off-ir |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=NewYorkJets.com}} He finished his rookie season with 43 receptions for 538 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Elijah Moore 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MoorEl00/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=February 19, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On October 20, 2022, Moore requested a trade from the Jets, citing frustration with his lack of involvement in the offense.{{cite web | last=Cimini | first=Rich | title=Source: Frustrated Jets WR Moore asks for trade | website=ESPN.com | date=2022-10-20 | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34839826/frustrated-jets-wr-elijah-moore-excused-practice | access-date=2024-10-19}} In the 2022 season, Moore finished with 37 receptions for 446 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in 16 games.{{Cite web |title=Elijah Moore 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MoorEl00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=February 19, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=Cleveland Browns=
On March 22, 2023, Moore and a third round pick were traded to the Cleveland Browns for a second-round pick.{{Cite web |last=Edholm |first=Eric |date=March 22, 2023 |title=Jets trading WR Elijah Moore, third-round pick to Browns for second-round pick |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/jets-trading-wr-elijah-moore-third-round-pick-to-browns-for-second-round-pick |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=NFL.com}}
Moore began the 2023 season as the Browns second option at wide receiver behind teammate Amari Cooper. Moore's best performance on the season came on week 17 against his former team the New York Jets where he caught 5 of 6 targets for 61 yards and a receiving touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Elijah Moore 2023 Stats per Game - NFL |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/4372414/elijah-moore |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=ESPN |language=en}} Moore's week 17 performance was helped by both him and teammate David Njoku receiving an increased target share due to Cooper being listed on the Browns inactive list with a heel injury.{{Cite magazine |last=Poisal |first=Anthony |date=2023-12-28 |title=Browns Week 17 Inactives vs. Jets: Amari Cooper Ruled Out With Heel Injury |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/browns/news/browns-week-17-inactives-vs-jets-amari-cooper-ruled-out |access-date=2024-03-16 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}} Moore finished his 2023 campaign with 59 receptions for 640 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Elijah Moore 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MoorEl00/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In Week 13 of the 2024 season, he had eight receptions for 111 yards against the Denver Broncos.{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos - December 2nd, 2024 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202412020den.htm |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He finished the 2024 season with 61 receptions for 538 yards and one touchdown.{{Cite web |title=Elijah Moore 2024 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MoorEl00/gamelog/2024/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
On April 28, 2025, the Browns applied the unrestricted free agent tender to Moore following his visit with the Buffalo Bills.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Charean |title=Browns apply unrestricted free agent tender to WR Elijah Moore |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/browns-apply-unrestricted-free-agent-tender-to-wr-elijah-moore |website=NBC Sports |access-date=29 April 2025}}
=Buffalo Bills=
On April 30, 2025, the Buffalo Bills signed Moore to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million.{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Chris|title=Bills add free agent Elijah Moore on one-year deal|url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-add-free-agent-wr-elijah-moore-on-one-year-deal|date=2025-05-05|website=buffalobills.com}}
NFL career statistics
=Regular season=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost |
| 2021 | NYJ
| 11 || 6 || 43 || 538 || 12.5 || 62 || 5 || 5 || 54 || 10.8 || 19 || 1 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | NYJ
| 16 || 9 || 37 || 446 || 12.1 || 42 || 1 || 5 || 5 || 1.0 || 10 || 0 || 1 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | CLE
| 17 || 12 || 59 || 640 || 10.8 || 42 || 2 || 9 || 11 || 1.2 || 19 || 0 || 2 || 2 | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | CLE
| 17 || 13 || 61 || 538 || 8.8 || 44 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| colspan="2"|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MoorEl00.htm Career] | 44 || 27 || 139 || 1,624 || 11.7 || 62 || 8 || 19 || 70 || 3.7 || 19 || 1 || 3 || 2 |
=Postseason=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost |
| 2023 | CLE
| 1 || 1 || 2 || 12 || 6.0 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||
| colspan="2"|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MoorEl00.htm Career] | 1 || 1 || 2 || 12 || 6.0 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons}}
{{footballstats|pfr=M/MoorEl00|nfl=elijah-moore|yahoo=33422|espn=4372414}}
- [https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/players-roster/elijah-moore/ Cleveland Browns bio]
- [https://olemisssports.com/sports/football/roster/elijah-moore/2671 Ole Miss Rebels bio]
{{Buffalo Bills roster navbox}}
{{2020 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Conerly Trophy}}
{{Jets2021DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, Elijah}}
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Ole Miss Rebels football players
Category:Players of American football from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Category:All-American college football players
Category:New York Jets players