The Cleveland Browns made two splashes in the NFL draft (trading down from the second pick and drafting Shedeur Sanders), but holes remained on their roster. Immediately following the draft, we looked at four wide receivers and three safeties that we believed could help fill two of those holes on the Browns roster.
This week, one of those receivers, Elijah Moore, took a visit with the Buffalo Bills, then Cleveland GM Andrew Berry placed a seldom-used unrestricted tender tag on the player he traded for two years ago. Then the Browns reportedly signed WR Diontae Johnson, of a very befuddling deal, to a one-year deal.
The Moore move seemed to indicate Cleveland was interested in retaining the receiver with the tender offer of over $3 million. Instead, Moore has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Bills that could earn him $5 million:
Source: Bills are signing former Browns WR Elijah Moore to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 30, 2025
As always, the guaranteed money and how Moore can earn the “up to $5 million” are key.
The signing makes Berry’s tender decision basically moot, according to Nick Korte, the expert on compensatory picks:
Although Elijah Moore is eligible to become a compensatory free agent after receiving the UFA tender, neither the Browns nor Bills were or are in play for 2026 compensatory picks.https://t.co/3My0UB8fl3
— Nick Korte (@nickkorte) April 30, 2025
That seemed clear when the Browns made the move, which calls into question the purpose of placing the tender on Moore. Perhaps, as a favor to the receiver (and his agent), Cleveland’s decision may have led Buffalo to up their offer.