Jets trade Elijah Moore to Browns | Are they gearing up to finish Aaron Rodgers trade?

When the Jets signed receiver Mecole Hardman on Wednesday afternoon, there were questions about where he’d fit into the offense.

About an hour later, one of them was answered when slot receiver Elijah Moore was traded to the Browns, a source confirmed.

The Jets received a second-round pick (No. 42 overall) from Cleveland, in exchange for Moore and their third-round pick (No. 74 overall). ESPN first reported the trade.

The Jets now hold three of the top 50 picks in next month’s draft (including No. 13 and No. 43 to go with No. 42 from Cleveland) and it’s fair to wonder if one or more of those picks could be used in a potential trade for Aaron Rogers. The Jets and Packers are nearly two weeks into an impasse over compensation after Rodgers made it known he wanted a trade to the Jets.

The Jets were thrilled when Moore fell to them in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he showed signs of true promise as a rookie when he finished the season with 43 catches for 538 yards and five touchdowns, with 34 catches for 459 of those yards and all five touchdowns coming in his final six games.

But Moore struggled to get involved last season and things quickly soured. After not being targeted in the Jets’ October win over the Packers, Moore tweeted his dissatisfaction with his role in the offense. That turned into a blowup at the team facility later in the week, when Moore was sent home after criticizing then-offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. Moore requested a trade that same day, which was not received well considering the Jets were two games over .500 for the first time since 2015.

The Jets made it clear they request. And Moore, who was left in New Jersey for the team’s next game in Denver, finished the season with a more limited role (he ended up with 37 catches for 446 yards and one touchdown, in 16 games, far less than the production of his 11-game rookie season).

Now he’s gone. But the Jets have plenty of depth to absorb the loss, including a clear top three: Hardman who they signed Wednesday, in the slot, with Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazrd entering year two and the newly signed Allen Lazrd.

The future of Corey Davis is less clear given the Jets can save $10 million by cutting him. And Denzel Mims, who also requested a trade last year, is once again buried at the bottom of the receiver depth.

So the Jets’ work at this position is likely not done.

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Andy Vasquez may be reached at avasquez@njadvancemedia.com.

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