Browns get speed, land Moore from NY Jets, swap draft picks
CLEVELAND, March 23, (AP): Elijah Moore wanted out of New York. The Browns wanted speed.
Both got their wish.
Cleveland added another offensive playmaker and target for quarterback Deshaun Watson on Wednesday, acquiring Moore in a trade with the Jets, who have overhauled their receiving group this offseason - perhaps in advance of quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ arrival.
The Browns have agreed to send the No. 42 pick in this year’s draft to the Jets for Moore and the No. 74 selection. The deal’s completion is pending a physical.
The Jets are parting ways with Moore, a second-round pick in 2021, shortly after agreeing to terms with former Kansas City wide receiver Mecole Hardman on a one-year deal, according to a person with knowledge of the contract.
New York will have picks No. 42 and 43 - as well as No. 13 overall. Earlier in free agency, the Jets signed former Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard and have been working toward a possible deal for Rodgers.
Cleveland made its major quarterback move last year, sending three first-round picks to Houston for Watson in a controversial trade. Now they’re adding a downfield threat for Watson in Moore, who can play in the slot, backfield or line up outside. He’ll complement receivers Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones.
The Browns lacked a player capable of stretching defenses after Anthony Schwartz, a third-round pick in 2021, struggled with drops and his confidence.
Cleveland explored the free agent market and other trades, including one for Denver wide receiver Jerry Jeudy before striking the deal with the Jets.
While Moore, who will turn 23 next week, hasn’t put up big numbers, he’s quick and versatile and gives Cleveland’s offense another wrinkle to support Watson and its strong running game.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Moore had 37 catches for 446 yards and one touchdown last season, but was unhappy with his role and asked for a trade. He became disgruntled due to a lack of pass-catching opportunities and asked to be dealt in October.
The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms Wednesday with two free agents: wide receiver Brandon Powell and linebacker Troy Reeder.
The contracts were pending completion of their physical exams.
Powell played the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and had 24 catches for 156 yards in 2022. He initially latched on as an undrafted free agent out of Florida in 2018 with the Detroit Lions. Powell is also a return specialist, with 57 career kickoff returns and 49 career punt returns. He had a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Vikings on Dec. 26, 2021.
Reeder also played his first three years
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in the league with the Rams. He spent the 2022 season with the Los Angeles Chargers. Reeder, who has 25 career starts in 66 games, made the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Delaware in 2019. He’s a high school teammate of Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill, from Wilmington, Delaware.
Both Powell and Reeder were on the Super Bowl champion Rams team in the 2021 season with current Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, who was the offensive coordinator there.
The Las Vegas Raiders might have found their replacement for Darren Waller, signing tight end Austin Hooper
on Wednesday.
Las Vegas also announced it had signed cornerback David Long Jr., who played for the Los Angeles Rams the past four seasons. Hooper caught 41 passes for 444 yards and two touchdowns last season with the Tennessee Titans.
He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection when he played for the Atlanta Falcons,
where he spent his first four seasons after being drafted in the third round in 2016. Hooper then played two years for the Cleveland Browns.
He has 339 receptions for 3,468 yards and 25 touchdowns in his career.