Cleveland Browns: Evan Moore Battling to be Part of Team's Future

By Kris Knox
Senior Writer

As the Cleveland Browns quickly approach roster cuts (the team must trim the roster to 75 by Aug. 27 and to 53 by Aug. 31), fans are likely getting their last look at a number of players who may never again put on a Browns uniform.

Most of the players currently on the roster bubble include undrafted free agents, injury fill-ins and other virtual unknowns, who may or may not one day emerge elsewhere in the NFL.

One player who may be battling for a roster spot, however, has become a familiar name over the past three seasons—tight end Evan Moore.

Once a promising prospect for the Green Bay Packers, Moore was signed to the Browns’ practice squad in 2009. Promoted to the active roster later that season, the 6’6″, 250-pound physical freak quickly made his presence felt, hauling in six passes for 80 yards in his regular season debut.

In the two years since, Moore has become a dynamic, under-utilized weapon in the Browns offense as the former Stanford wide receiver hauled in 50 passes for 646 yards and five touchdowns.

Due to his size and wide receiver speed, Moore has the ability to create mismatches virtually anywhere on the field. However, his development has come at a crawling pace due, in part, to a series of nagging injuries and due to the physical and mental demands of making the position switch from wideout to tight end.

Fortunately, Moore has not been thrust into the starting role too often, due to the presence of former Patriot Benjamin Watson, who has racked up an impressive 105 receptions and 1,173 yards receiving in his two seasons as the Browns’ starting tight end.

After Cleveland drafted former USC tight end Jordan Cameron, who has been very impressive during training camp, some speculated that Moore could be on his way out as the Browns’ developmental tight end. However, the team inked Moore to a new two-year extension last offseason, making it clear that he would still be a part of the franchise’s future plans.

Still, Moore is currently listed as the fourth tight end on Cleveland’s depth chart and a hamstring injury has limited him to just three receptions through two preseason games, once again prompting some to question his place on the squad.

Watson, Cameron and blocking tight end Alex Smith are virtual locks to make the final 53-man roster, leaving Moore and Dan Gronkowski battling for the No. 4 spot—if Cleveland decides to carry four tight ends this season.

However, the position Moore finds himself in has done little to dampen his outlook.

“I’ve chosen not to let anything frustrate me,” Moore recently said, according to the Plain Dealer. “I’m just going to keep my nose to the grindstone and keep going. If I just go out and play, things will fall into place how they’re meant to be and you respond once things happen.