Jets trading for Ravens RT Morgan Moses, sources say
Trying to create a better offensive line for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the New York Jets will acquire right tackle Morgan Moses from the Baltimore Ravens, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday.
The Jets are sending a fourth-round pick (No. 112 overall) and a sixth-rounder (No. 218) to the Ravens in exchange for Moses and a fourth-rounder (No. 134).
The trade won't become official until 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, the start of the new league year. It's a reunion for the Jets and Moses, who started 16 games for them in 2021 on a one-year contract. The Jets tried to re-sign him, but he wound up signing a three-year, $15 million contract in Baltimore.
The Jets' new-look line has a shade of purple. On Monday, they agreed to terms with former Ravens left guard John Simpson. They still have one opening in their projected starting lineup -- left tackle -- but they can address that need with the 10th pick in the draft.
Their 2023 tackles, Mekhi Becton and Duane Brown, are free agents and not expected to return. Jets officials said their goal this offseason was to add three new starters to the line, which had 13 different starting combinations last season and allowed 64 sacks (28th).
Moses, due to make $5.5 million in the final year of his contract, fits the Jets' bargain-hunting approach. With only about $26 million in cap room at the start of free agency, general manager Joe Douglas passed on some of the high-priced players, settling for Moses and Simpson (two years for a maximum value of $18 million).
The Ravens gained $5.5 million in salary cap space by trading Moses to the Jets.
Moses is a nine-year starter who has shown signs of wearing down. Last season, he missed three games because of a shoulder injury, the first time he had been sidelined since his 2014 rookie season. He also rotated with Daniel Faalele during the season to give him more rest.
Last season, Moses ranked 20th in pass block win rate among tackles (90.3%), allowing a team-high nine sacks. He was 33rd in run block win rate among tackles (76.5%).
After Baltimore signed Moses in 2022, he provided stability to the Ravens' right tackle spot for two years. The Ravens had played four linemen at right tackle in 2021 after trading Orlando Brown Jr. to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The trade continues an offensive line rebuild for Baltimore. In addition to replacing Moses at right tackle, the Ravens will have two new starting guards because Kevin Zeitler is a free agent and Simpson is leaving for his free agent deal with the Jets.
The only returning starting offensive linemen for Baltimore are Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum and left tackle Ronnie Stanley. At the NFL combine last month, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said rebuilding the offensive line will be "the most important thing we do on offense."
Also on Wednesday, the Jets agreed to a two-year contract to re-sign punter Thomas Morstead.
ESPN's Jamison Hensley contributed to this report.
