Former NY Jets WR Elijah Moore says it 'feels good to be wanted'

Justin Fried

NY Jets, Elijah Moore / Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Former NY Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore finally got his wish this offseason when the Jets sent him packing to Cleveland in what was essentially a swap of draft picks. It's safe to say that Moore is enjoying his time with the Browns.

Moore spoke with reporters following Wednesday's OTA session, and he expressed how happy he is to be in Cleveland. More specifically, he's happy to be on a team that wants him.

Moore told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com that it "feels good to be wanted" when asked about his brief time with the Browns this offseason. That certainly can be read as a subtle jab at his former team.

The former second-round pick infamously requested a trade following the Jets' 4-2 start to the 2022 season. Following a blowout 27-10 win over the Green Bay Packers, Moore was excused from practice before publicly requesting a trade.

While the trade never materialized during the season, the Jets honored his wishes a few months later by shipping him to the Browns. Evidently, Moore feels more valued by his new organization.

Elijah Moore is happy to be away from the NY Jets

Following a promising rookie season that was cut short by injury, many hoped that Moore would take a significant step forward in 2022. Many pegged him as a potential breakout star, and he was the team's de facto WR1 going into the season.

Unfortunately for Moore, poor QB play and the emergence of rookie Garrett Wilson hindered his role in the offense. He managed just 37 catches for 446 yards and a touchdown in 16 games last season.

The Jets revamped their wide receiver room this offseason, signing the likes of Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, and Randall Cobb to join the returning Garrett Wilson and Corey Davis.

Meanwhile, Moore will hope to revitalize his career in a Browns' receiving corps that also features players like Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones.

Both Moore and the Jets were in need of a fresh start, although the former Ole Miss standout's insinuation that his old team didn't value him might be a bit of a stretch.

Regardless, the Jets are likely very happy with their wide receiver room — as well as the pick swap that allowed them to draft center Joe Tippmann — and Moore is happy to be with a new franchise.

Moore and the Browns will take on the Jets in this year's Hall of Fame Game in August before playing host to Gang Green on Thursday Night Football in Week 17. The Jets should see plenty of Moore this season, for better or worse.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.