Scouting New York Jets rookie security Malachi Moore

The New York Jets drafted former Alabama security Malachi Moore within the fourth spherical of the 2025 NFL draft. Right now we break Moore down intimately.

The 23-year outdated Moore is listed at 5’11” and 196 kilos. He was a second-team all-American in 2024. He had 214 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 6 interceptions in 64 video games with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Background

Moore was a four-star highschool recruit who had 4 interceptions in his remaining season and earned a scholarship at Alabama, the place he gained a beginning function in his freshman season in 2020.

He was named to the all-SEC freshman workforce and the all-SEC second workforce after beginning the primary 11 video games of the yr and recording 44 tackles, six passes defensed and three interceptions. He additionally returned a fumble for a landing. Nevertheless, he missed the postseason as a consequence of harm.

In 2021, Moore began 9 video games, however he was in a rotational function as he completed the season with 17 tackles and one interception.

Forward of the 2022 season, he was named as a preseason third workforce all-American by Professional Soccer Focus, however ended up beginning only one sport. He had 31 tackles and the primary 1.5 sacks of his profession.

In 2023, he was a full-time starter and had a productive yr with 52 tackles and a career-best 5 tackles for loss.

2024 was his finest season, as he earned second workforce all-American and first workforce all-SEC honors by racking up 70 tackles, eight cross breakups, two interceptions and a sack.

Moore was invited to the NFL scouting mix however didn’t work out as a consequence of harm. The Jets traded as much as choose him with the final decide of the fourth spherical in April’s draft.

Let’s transfer on to some extra in-depth evaluation of what Moore brings to the desk as a participant, primarily based on in depth analysis and movie examine.

Measurables/Athleticism

Moore is a bit undersized for the protection place with very brief arms. In reality, the one security with shorter arms in mix historical past to grow to be a beginning security on the NFL stage has been Geno Stone.

He ran a strong 4.57 within the 40-yard sprint and posted 15 bench press reps at his professional day, however didn’t do the agility drills. His explosiveness numbers had been glorious.

Utilization

Moore has performed within the field, within the slot and as a deep security, however his function developed over the course of his profession.

In his freshman season, nearly all of his reps had been within the slot with some within the field and none as a deep security. Nevertheless, his remaining season noticed him principally taking part in as a deep security.

Protection abilities

Moore performed nearer to the road of scrimmage till final season. The transfer right into a deeper function was mirrored in fewer targets and vastly improved protection numbers. He entered the 2024 season having given up a completion on 70 p.c of his targets, however diminished that every one the best way all the way down to 43 p.c final yr, as he gave up simply 11 yards per sport.

For his profession as an entire, he gave up 10 touchdowns and lots of massive performs, often being overmatched when remoted in opposition to a speedy receiver.

Nevertheless, he seems good in off protection, with skill to latch on in protection and anticipate route breaks.

As a deep security he did a strong job of patrolling heart subject, choosing off just a few errant passes and doing a strong job of ranging throughout the sector in protection help.

Ball abilities

Moore put up strong on-ball numbers in school with six profession interceptions and 25 cross breakups. He shows good vary and timing in heart subject and tracks deep throws effectively.

Nearer to the road of scrimmage, he has good consciousness and positional sense and the flexibility to leap routes and contest throws.

Tackling

Moore is an enormous hitter with good closing pace and a knack for knocking or stripping the ball unfastened. He had 5 compelled fumbles in his profession.

His sort out effectivity was a minor concern heading into the 2024 season as he had simply missed a career-high 9 tackles in 2023. Nevertheless, he confirmed a dramatic enchancment final yr, as he was fifth finest amongst energy 5 safeties who performed over half the defensive snaps when it comes to sort out effectivity.

Run protection

Moore’s lack of dimension may very well be detrimental in opposition to the run however he reveals some willingness to tackle blocks and set the sting. His method and energy when attempting to shed blocks may do with some work, however he performs with good self-discipline.

Regardless of taking part in deeper, his manufacturing in opposition to the run in 2024 was nonetheless strong as he had 32 tackles and the identical variety of stops (9) as in his freshman yr.

Physicality

Regardless of a scarcity of dimension, Moore brings competitiveness and works exhausting to get ball carriers on the bottom when he wraps them up. As famous, he’s an enormous hitter.

He has performed press protection at occasions however solely had 12 penalties in his profession, with solely certainly one of his 4 penalties final season for cross interference and none for unlawful contact or defensive holding.

Blitzing

Moore has loads of expertise as a blitzer and was credited with 2.5 sacks and a good stress fee throughout his school profession. He brings burst and timing off the sting.

He can be efficient in conditions the place he’s tasked with spying the quarterback to forestall him from escaping the pocket and changing first downs.

Moore additionally batted two passes down on the line whereas speeding the quarterback.

Particular groups

Moore has loads of particular groups expertise together with his finest season coming in 2022 when he had 5 particular groups tackles.

He has performed in kickoff protection, as a blocker on the kickoff return unit and on the punt safety unit. As well as, he’s each rushed punts and performed the vice function on the punt return unit and was on the kick block unit for the previous two seasons.

He additionally had this particular groups landing on a blocked punt.

Instincts/Intelligence

Moore shows glorious on-field instincts, commonly blowing up performs within the flat by studying his keys or making an instantaneous response.

He was caught out of place on this play, although, resulting in an important landing on fourth down.

The very fact he has performed a number of defensive roles and positions ought to serve Moore effectively on this space and speaks to his scheme familiarity.

Angle

Moore is an extremely intense and excessive power participant and one of many first issues that stands out on movie is how he will get fired up and flexes after just about each play he makes.

There’s nothing significantly improper with that nevertheless it’s prone to make him unpopular with opposing followers, and will trigger Jets followers to lose persistence with him if he carries this demeanor whereas additionally making occasional errors.

One thing he’ll want to look at is that he doesn’t cross the road when it comes to taunting whereas celebrating over an opponent or jawing with them on the finish of a play. There have been just a few performs he made final season the place that would have led to a flag and his on-field self-discipline has been missing at occasions, with two private fouls and an unsportsmanlike penalty final yr alone.

One incident particularly gave trigger for concern on the finish of the Crimson Tide’s upset loss to Vanderbilt final season.

Moore – who had already been accused of a unclean hit on the opposing quarterback’s head on the finish of a play – threw what can solely actually be described as a tantrum on the finish of the sport, yelling at teammates, throwing his mouthguard after which petulantly kicking the ball down the sector after the officers tried to identify it for the victory formation. Maybe much more worryingly, he then refused to go away the sport because the coaches tried to sub him out.

Moore was a captain for the previous two years, which factors to the truth that he was identified for having good character and management. Nevertheless, the truth that this incident befell whereas Moore was a captain and fifth-year senior arguably makes it even worse.

To his credit score, Moore apparently took possession of the incident and vowed that he had realized from it and that it wouldn’t occur once more. The coaches additionally threw their help behind him, saying that they had handled it behind the scenes and determined to not droop him as a result of he “went above and past” to atone for his conduct and had been a essential piece for them throughout the remainder of his profession.

Hopefully that was an aberration and a studying expertise for him. It could certainly have been one thing each workforce requested him to justify on the mix so the Jets had been presumably glad together with his clarification.

He confirmed additional indicators of excellent character by being named a member of the SEC Neighborhood Service Group whereas at Alabama.

Accidents

Moore confirmed some toughness to play by means of some accidents whereas at Alabama however his sturdiness could also be a priority as a result of he’s undersized.

In 2024, he missed the workforce’s bowl sport as he went for surgical procedure on a sports activities hernia, which had reportedly bothered him all yr. He had been cleared in time for the scouting mix however opted to work out at his professional day as an alternative to present it additional time to heal.

2023 noticed him lacking one sport and knocked out of two others as he had a twisted ankle and he additionally had a concussion and a again harm whereas at Alabama. The latter ended his freshman season prematurely, inflicting him to overlook the postseason.

Scheme Match

It’s notable that Moore was a teammate of Brian Department, who was a key chief for head coach Aaron Glenn’s Lions protection and reportedly put in phrase for Moore when Glenn requested him for a reference.

It is going to be fascinating to see what sort of plan the Jets have for Moore. In contrast to Michael Carter II, who was additionally an undersized school security with brief arms, Moore lacks the pace and athleticism to transform to a full-time cornerback function.

Athletically, Moore really profiles extra equally to Department, however there’s a dimension distinction of two inches and 20+ kilos.

The truth that he falls between these two gamers may point out he’s schematic match for the protection which Glenn is utilizing the present Jets personnel to create alongside defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.

Moore was additionally a teammate of present Jets defensive sort out Phidarian Mathis whereas at Alabama.

Conclusions

Moore is a participant who will convey depth and power, having displayed loads of playmaking skill in school. He’s additionally demonstrated versatility and been productive in an NFL-style protection in opposition to good opposition.

His dimension and sturdiness may very well be regarding, and it’s clear he’s a fiery participant who could have to work at conserving his feelings beneath management. With out these points, Moore’s movie would in all probability have been adequate for him to warrant being a top-50 choice, so the Jets may find yourself with a discount if he allays these fears.