The Jets traded franchise-tagged receiver Rob Moore to…
The Jets traded franchise-tagged receiver Rob Moore to Arizona on April 21, 1995 for running back Ronald Moore plus first- and fourth-round picks. New York used the first-rounder on Hugh Douglas, the 1995 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and the fourth on Melvin Hayes. Rob Moore became a productive Cardinal, but the Jets' combination of capital and Douglas earns the edge.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Rob Moore
New York Jets Received
- player Ronald Moore
- pick 1995 1st round pick (16th overall, Hugh Douglas )
- pick 1995 4th round pick (106th overall, Melvin Hayes)
Trade Analysis
This transaction belongs to April 21, 1995, not 1994. The Jets had placed the franchise tag on wide receiver Rob Moore, then dealt him to Arizona for running back Ronald Moore, the 16th overall selection and a fourth-round pick at No. 106. Contemporary Jets history and the 1995 draft-trade record both place the exchange immediately before that year's draft, which is why the season and date fields need to follow the 1995 transaction.
Arizona acquired a proven receiver entering his prime. Rob Moore gave the Cardinals several productive seasons and eventually posted a 1,584-yard, eight-touchdown campaign in 1997. His Arizona years made the acquisition defensible even at a premium price. The Cardinals were buying established receiving talent rather than hoping a first-round selection would develop.
New York's return was broader. The Jets used No. 16 on Temple defensive end Hugh Douglas, who immediately won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Douglas spent three seasons with the Jets before being traded to Philadelphia, where his career reached its peak, so New York should not receive credit for everything he later accomplished. Still, he supplied impact play quickly and retained trade value. The fourth-round pick became Melvin Hayes, while Ronald Moore offered additional depth.
The Jets win because they turned a tagged veteran into three assets and immediately found a high-level defensive player with the premium choice. Arizona also received strong football value from Rob Moore, keeping the Cardinals' grade respectable. This was not a one-sided failure; it was a trade in which both teams obtained productive players, with New York gaining the more flexible and ultimately stronger package.