CLEVELAND -- Evan Moore has his first big catch of 2011.
The tight end signed a two-year contract extension Friday with the Browns, who are expecting big things from the 6-foot-6 Moore this season.
The Browns confirmed Moore's new deal.
A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that Moore's extension is worth nearly $3 million per year and runs through the 2013 season. The person told The AP on condition of anonymity because paperwork had not yet been submitted to the NFL. Moore signed a one-year tender as a restricted free agent before training camp started.
"I will be a Brown for at least 3 more years," Moore wrote on his Twitter account. "Couldn't be happier about it. Great organization. Great fans."
Moore caught 16 passes for 322 yards in 12 games last season, but the Browns believe he could be a major piece in their new West Coast offense. Moore had a strong training camp and preseason, and he has developed a nice chemistry with second-year quarterback Colt McCoy.
If he can stay healthy, Moore has a chance to put up big numbers in the pass-friendly offense installed for McCoy under first-year coach Pat Shurmur. Moore has the size to play close to the line of scrimmage and speed to line up on the outside like a wide receiver.
Moore, 26, signed with the Browns in 2009 after spending one season with the Green Bay Packers.
Moore, who had 103 receptions during four seasons at Stanford, missed two games last season with a hip injury before being placed on injured reserve for the final two weeks. He also sustained a concussion in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs and suffered another mild concussion two weeks ago in a preseason game against the Detroit Lions.
Moore's extension is the second completed by the Browns during the preseason. The team signed four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas to a seven-year, $84 million extension last week, the largest contract ever given to a lineman.
The Browns are $19 million under the salary cap and next might try to sign running back Peyton Hillis for more years. Hillis, who rushed for nearly 1,200 yards last season, is in the final year of his rookie contract and is scheduled to earn the league four-year minimum of $555,000.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
