ORCHARD PARK, N. Y. – The Buffalo Bills have brought in two new experienced wide receivers this season, Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore, both eager to make their mark.
“The biggest thing was I wanted to be a part of a team that wanted me, so I’m excited for what my career will be like in Buffalo,” Palmer said inside the team’s practice fieldhouse in Orchard Park.
“Just a great group that I’ve been watching behind the scenes for a while,” Moore added. “I’ve been playing against them since I was with the Jets. I got to see it up close and personal.”
Palmer and Moore have quite a few things in common. For starters, they play the same position. They are both 25 years old, entering their fifth NFL season and both coming on board as free agents with one of the top teams in the league.
“This is new to both of us, but at the same time, we get to attack it like what we know,” Moore said. “Where we worked out at and basically where we grew up in a sense together definitely know what it’s like to work hard.”
This isn’t their first time sharing a locker room. Their journey together goes back to 2016 when Palmer and Moore played on the same high school football team at Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale.
“I always thought Elijah was like, oh that little, short guy with a lot of swag,” Palmer said of Moore while recalling their early interactions. “The way he would just walk around. He just had a swag to him.”
“Quiet. Same way he is now,” Moore remembered Palmer. “Credit to that because everybody has to adapt and change and be the person that they have to be in their environment. But he’s the same exact person since I met him in high school.”
While Moore grew up in Florida, Palmer made his way from Brampton, Ontario to join a program over 2,000 miles away from home.
“I was in a position where I had to get better and get better fast just because there were a lot of guys in South Florida that were very good,” Palmer said.
The two pushed each other back then, just as they plan to do now in their new roles.
“I would say the most competitive that it could get because everybody’s going to make the play,” Moore said. “I guess it’s about who makes the play more consistently and that just brings the best out of everyone.”
An environment that prepared them both for what lay ahead. Fast forward through college (Palmer at Tennessee, Moore at Ole Miss) and four seasons in the NFL (Palmer with the Chargers, Moore with the Jets and Browns), they’re back together again in Buffalo.
They sat next to each other reminiscing while looking forward with Spectrum News 1:
“Closest person I am with on the team. Most familiar face,” Moore said.
“Hours of conversations,” Palmer added.
“Getting really to understand each other now better than we did before. We’re grown men. We’re here. We’re blessed,” Moore responded.
“At first it was like a four-hour conversation,” Palmer said of their talks once both had signed with the Bills.
“We got to catch up for sure,” Moore said.
Tighter than ever – united by their shared ambitions for success. Their career stats are impressively close as well. Moore, selected by the Jets in round two during 2021, has tallied 200 catches for 2,162 yards and nine touchdowns. Meanwhile, Palmer-a third-round pick from 2021-has achieved ten touchdowns on 182 receptions totaling 2,287 yards while playing for Los Angeles.
“As good as we want to be. We have a lot of talent. I think this team likes to exploit the talents of each player,” Palmer stated.
Both are thrilled about joining an organization whose motto is “everybody eats,” meaning all receivers share opportunities equally when MVP quarterback Josh Allen leads them into action.
“I think the sky is not even the limit; it’s such a great group of guys which is part of why I even came here,” Moore remarked.” Most people think-what many don’t realize-is you need others around you too if you want success.”
A little help from friends always goes a long way!
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