The New York Jets were pleased with their 2025 NFL draft class. Through the first two games of the new season, though, we haven’t seen much production or opportunities from these first-year players.

Outside of seventh-overall rookie tackle Armand Membou, the Jets have played the remaining rookies sparingly through their 0-2 start.

That could change going into a Week 3 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Injuries during the Jets’ 30-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday forced several of the team’s rookie class into the starting lineup.

Chief among them was Alabama safety and fourth-round pick Malachi Moore.

Jets rookie stars in limited role

Head coach Aaron Glenn was over the moon when the Jets were able to draft Moore with the 130th overall selection in April’s draft. The former Pro Bowl corner talked about his leadership and big-play ability as reasons for the team’s excitement around the player.

When Tony Adams was hurt during Sunday’s loss, the contest was a golden opportunity for Moore to make a good first impression in extended action.

While the results weren’t always pretty, Glenn still came away pleased.

“I think he did a pretty good job,” Glenn said. “Listen, it’s tough for a rookie to come in as a secondary player, especially if you’re not with the ones on a play-to-play basis to make sure that you’re intact with everything that is going on. But I thought he did a really good job.”

Moore finished the day with five tackles in the loss, but was around the ball in his 37% snap percentage on Sunday. Glenn did not announce how long Adams’ injury will keep him out for, but the organization knows they have a good player to back him up.

“He’s (Moore) a smart player, so it doesn’t surprise me at all,” Glenn explained. “Now that he was with our ones, man, he has to make sure that, and we all have to make sure that the communication between the back end is on point.”

Like any rookie, the more reps Moore gets, the better he will be as he continues on through his rookie season. While the results weren’t perfect on Sunday, the Alabama prospect showed why the Jets were thrilled when he landed in their lap.

Should Adams be unable to go for the team’s Week 3 contest in Tampa, Moore will have a golden opportunity to reward that confidence moving forward.

Who knows, he may just win the safety job outright moving forward.