The NFL moves fast. One minute you're the shiny new weapon for a Super Bowl contender, and the next, you're looking for a practice squad spot in the Rockies. That is basically the whirlwind story of Elijah Moore and his brief, somewhat head-scratching stint with the Buffalo Bills.
If you blinked during the 2025 season, you might have missed him in a Bills uniform entirely. It was a "blink and you'll miss it" tenure that promised a lot and delivered, well, not much. Honestly, when Buffalo GM Brandon Beane pulled the trigger on Moore last spring, the logic felt airtight. The Bills needed speed. Moore had plenty. But as we’ve seen so many times in this league, "on-paper" fit doesn't always translate to the turf at Highmark Stadium.
The Elijah Moore Buffalo Bills Experiment
Let’s look at how this actually started. In late April 2025, right after the draft, the Bills signed Moore to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million. At the time, Bills Mafia was buzzing. The team had just moved on from Stefon Diggs a year prior and was leaning heavily on Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman. Moore, a former second-round pick with 4.3 speed, looked like the perfect vertical threat to keep safeties honest for Josh Allen.
He even tweeted about it. He was "grateful for the opportunity" and couldn't wait to meet the fans. It felt like a fresh start for a guy who had spent his career in the weird limbo of the Jets and Browns offenses.
But the reality was much quieter. Moore suited up for nine games in Buffalo. In those nine appearances, he managed only nine receptions. Nine. That is barely a catch per game for a guy making five million bucks. He did find the end zone once, but it wasn't on a deep bomb from Allen—it was a rushing touchdown during a Week 2 game against the Jets. Talk about a revenge play that didn't lead to a long-term marriage.
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Why the fit failed in Orchard Park
You have to wonder what went wrong. Usually, when a talented receiver joins Josh Allen, their stats explode. Look at Khalil Shakir. But Moore never seemed to get into the flow of Joe Brady’s offense. By the time November rolled around, the writing was on the wall.
On November 26, 2025, the Bills made it official. They waived Moore.
The move coincided with Buffalo signing veteran Brandin Cooks, a move that basically said, "We need a professional who knows this role." Moore requested to be waived because, frankly, he wasn't playing. He went from a potential WR3 to a gameday inactive or a decoy. For a 25-year-old trying to prove he’s a starter, that’s a death sentence.
- Total catches with Bills: 9
- Total yards: 112
- The "High" Point: That lone rushing TD against his old team.
- The "Low" Point: Multiple games with zero targets despite being healthy.
Where is Elijah Moore now?
After the Bills cut him loose, Moore didn't stay on the street long. The Denver Broncos scooped him up for their practice squad in December 2025. It’s a bit of a fall from grace for a guy who was once the 34th overall pick, but that’s the NFL business.
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Interestingly, as of late January 2026, Moore is actually back on an active roster for the playoffs. The Broncos elevated him for their Divisional Round game—ironically, against the Buffalo Bills. If there was ever a "full circle" moment in sports, this is it. He’s going back to Orchard Park, but this time he'll be wearing orange and blue, trying to burn the secondary that didn't have room for him.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Signing
The common narrative is that Moore "washed out" or lost his talent. That’s probably unfair. If you watch the tape from his 2023 season in Cleveland, he had 59 catches for 640 yards. The talent is there.
The real issue in Buffalo was the emergence of the "Everyone Eats" philosophy. With Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Shakir, and Coleman all demanding targets, Moore became a luxury the Bills couldn't afford to keep on the roster if he wasn't contributing on special teams or as a primary blocker. He's a pure receiver. If he's not catching, he's not helping.
Actionable Insights for Bills Fans and Dynasty Owners
If you're still holding onto Moore in a dynasty fantasy league or just wondering if the Bills made a mistake, here is the breakdown:
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- Don't expect a Bills reunion: The bridge seems pretty burned after the mid-season waiver request. Buffalo has moved on to a more traditional veteran presence in Brandin Cooks.
- Watch the Broncos usage: Denver is thin at WR. If Moore can show even a flash of his rookie-year Jets form during this playoff run, he’ll likely land a decent "prove-it" deal somewhere in 2026.
- The "Scheme Fit" Lesson: Moore thrives in space. Buffalo’s offense under Joe Brady shifted toward a more physical, intermediate passing game that didn't always suit Moore’s "win-with-speed" style.
The Elijah Moore Buffalo Bills era will go down as one of those weird trivia questions in a few years. It was a high-upside gamble that simply didn't pay out for either side. Sometimes a change of scenery is just a change of scenery, not a solution.
Keep an eye on the transaction wire this offseason. Moore is still only 25. In a league desperate for speed, someone will give him a fifth chance. Whether he can finally stick somewhere and replicate that 2021 potential remains the biggest question of his career.
Next Steps for Following the Narrative:
Keep a close eye on the Broncos' post-game participation reports. If Moore sees more than 15% of the offensive snaps, it's a signal that Sean Payton sees a role for him that Sean McDermott didn't. You should also track the Bills' salary cap situation; moving on from Moore saved them a bit of cash, but they’ll likely be looking for another budget-friendly vertical threat in the 2026 draft to fill the void he left behind.