The New York Jets reached a one-year contract with Mecole Hardman on Wednesday and then agreed to trade fellow wide receiver Elijah Moore to the Cleveland Browns.
The deal for Hardman is worth up to $6.5 million, per NFL Network.
In the reported trade for Moore, the Jets also sent a third-round pick in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft in exchange for a second-round selection. New York will hold the Nos. 42 and 43 picks in this year’s draft, while Cleveland’s top pick is now the 74th overall selection obtained in the trade.
The reports come one week after the Jets signed wide receiver Allen Lazard to a four-year, $44 million contract.
Hardman, 24, had a painful end to his four-year tenure in Kansas City. He missed the final two months of the 2022 season with what the team called a pelvic injury. He returned to play in the AFC Championship Game but re-aggravated the injury and exited the game. He missed the Super Bowl.
He underwent groin surgery last month in Philadelphia.
Hardman finished 2022 with 25 catches for 297 yards and four touchdowns.
He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie return specialist with the Chiefs, who selected him in the second round of the 2019 draft. He has 151 career catches for 2,088 yards and 16 TDs while also rushing for two scores and returning one kickoff and one punt for touchdowns.
Moore, who turns 23 next week, had 37 catches for 446 yards and one touchdown in 16 games last season. He had 43 receptions for 538 yards and five scores in 11 games during the previous season after being selected by the Jets in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Moore will join Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones in the wide receiver room for the Browns.
–Field Level Media
