The Cleveland Browns have salary cap issues heading into the offseason, and it is unlikely that the current roster will arrive at training camp without losing several key players
Sports Illustrated’s Spencer German compiled a list of the top four salary cap candidates on Cleveland’s roster on Wednesday, January 17th.
Among them was wide receiver Elijah Moore, whom the team acquired before the 2023 season.
Moore endured an up-and-down season after being traded from the [New York] Jets to Cleveland in late March.
When the Browns announced the Elijah Moore package during training camp, high expectations were immediately placed on him.
However, the on-field production never seemed to materialize, especially with Watson under center, as the 2021 second-round pick only scored two touchdowns all season.
No Guarantees [GM Andrew] Berry and company want to move on from Moore after giving up his own second-round pick to acquire Moore.
However, this would save Cleveland nearly $1.
9 million without hitting a dead cap hit in 2024.
The Browns could justify releasing WR Elijah Moore even if they acquired him in a trade before the 2023 NFL Draft.
Cleveland Browns receiver Elijah Moore sent a message after suffering a concussion against the Jets.
Getty Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore.
It’s rare, if ever, to trade a second-round pick and leave a player with less than $2 million in savings after just one year.
However, looking at the details of the trade, the idea of waiving Moore becomes less offensive.
The Browns gave up the 42nd overall pick in the 2023 draft to acquire the wideout, but also re-acquired the Jets’ 74th overall pick in the third round.
So Moore’s price was a one-round, 25-spot swap instead of a full second-round value pick.
So, with the current $13.
86 million deficit, combined with the salary cap constraints Cleveland faces, moving on from a player like Moore makes sense, at least considering the savings.
Elijah Moore needs one more year of cost control before becoming a free agent Getty Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore.
Moore didn’t play a particularly important role in the Browns’ offensive success last season, but he did set career highs in targets (104), receptions (59) and receiving yards (640), according to Pro Football Reference.
did.
He added two touchdowns and became the team’s clear No.
2 player in the wide receiver room at season’s end.
