Despite offseason skepticism about the Buffalo Bills’ wide receiver group following Stefon Diggs’ departure, it looks like Elijah Moore won’t be fighting for a roster spot. According to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic, Moore is “close to a lock” to make Buffalo’s 53-man roster, even though his one-year, $2.5 million contract isn’t large enough to guarantee it outright. Curtis Samuel, who has a fully guaranteed $6.91 million salary for 2025, is also considered a roster lock.
Bills GM Brandon Beane defended the team’s revamped receiving corps post-draft, which now includes free agent addition Josh Palmer, second-round rookie Keon Coleman, and the recently extended Khalil Shakir. Moore, who signed with the team after the draft, joins a crowded group of inside receivers, including Samuel and Shakir — with Palmer also having slot experience.
Moore’s NFL career so far has been shaped by less-than-ideal quarterback situations. Drafted by the Jets just after they picked Zach Wilson, Moore never found chemistry in New York and later ended up in Cleveland. There, Deshaun Watson’s struggles and instability at quarterback limited Moore’s impact, even though he finished 2023 with a career-high 640 receiving yards. The Browns, despite applying a rare UFA tender to him, didn’t prioritize keeping him after signing Diontae Johnson.
Now in Buffalo, Moore has a fresh opportunity to work with Josh Allen — the most reliable quarterback he’s had to date. Although the Bills are loaded with slot receivers and have tight end Dalton Kincaid also competing for targets, Moore could become a valuable tertiary option in the offense. His past production shows potential, and he may now have the best chance yet to increase his value ahead of 2026 free agency.
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