HOUSTON (April 7, 2006) -- Buffalo Bills receiver Eric Moulds was finally traded to the Houston Texans on April 6 in exchange for a fifth-round pick in this year's draft.
The move became official two days after Moulds confirmed the deal. Moulds, who had the Bills' permission to seek a trade, agreed to a four-year, $14 million contract that includes a $5 million signing bonus.
Moulds had two years remaining on his contract with the Bills, but said he wouldn't return after he twice refused to take a major pay cut last month. The 10-year veteran was scheduled to count about $10.8 million against Buffalo's salary cap.
By trading Moulds, the Bills freed up about $5.5 million in cap space. He still will count about $5.3 million against the Bills' cap because of bonuses factored in during his contract with the team.
"We had hoped to keep Eric," Bills general manager Marv Levy said in a statement. "There was an unwillingness on his part to re-negotiate his contract, and we really had no alternative but to make this trade."
The signing of Moulds, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, should take some pressure off top Texans receiver Andre Johnson, who has struggled with double-teams because the team didn't have another legitimate receiving threat.
Moulds had 675 career catches for 9,096 yards and 48 touchdowns in 10 seasons with Buffalo. Only Andre Reed has more catches (941) and yards (13,095) among Bills receivers.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound player had 81 receptions for 816 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games with Buffalo last season. He has caught at least 50 passes in each of the last eight seasons and has four career 1,000 yards seasons.