New York Jets fourth-round rookie safety Malachi Moore has shown steady progress in each one of his outings this season.
Beyond his tangible growth, the Alabama product has been able to play multiple positions on Gang Green’s defense, a skill highly valued by defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
“Malachi is a guy that can play all over the field,” said Wilks, per the team’s official website. “He can play back deep, he has range in the post, good ball skills. When he’s up in the core right there, he does a good job of fitting the run.”
Through 605 defensive snaps this season, Moore has lined up just about everywhere. He’s taken 188 snaps in the box, 255 at free safety, 139 in the slot, and even four at outside corner, a testament to how comfortable the Jets are moving him around this early into his career.
Across 12 games (including nine starts), the rookie has recorded 60 tackles and two pass breakups. In coverage, he has allowed 13 completions on 21 targets for 164 yards and one touchdown, contributing to an 86.2 passer rating allowed.
As he continues to settle into the pro game, the final five weeks offer a valuable runway for Moore to earn more meaningful reps and strengthen his case to open up his sophomore season in a starting role.
“It is critical for those two guys [Moore and third-round rookie Azareye’h Thomas] to get as many reps as they can, and I’m talking about true, live, game action as being young players that we drafted this past year,” Jets head coach Glenn said. “They’re doing a really, really good job, I will tell you that. Now, there are some things that they have to clean up. They make their rookie mistakes just like most rookies do, but they’re getting a crash course of how this league is and how you have to be on top of your game every week.”
What he puts on tape from here out will help determine how the Jets map out his role heading into next year.
