In a lost season, fans look for anything positive to cling to.
A player who has been one of those “positives” for the 3-12 New York Jets is rookie defensive back Malachi Moore.
As a fourth-round rookie, it took a few weeks before Moore earned consistent playing time. However, since his emergence into the starting lineup, after Andre Cisco’s season-ending pectoral injury, his play has been promising.
In 15 games this season (12 starts), Moore has recorded 84 total tackles (49 solo), two pass breakups, and 13 stops. He also forced a fumble in Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, generating one of New York’s only four total turnovers this season.
The thing that makes Moore so valuable is his versatility. Through 810 defensive snaps this season, the DB has lined up just about everywhere. He’s logged 325 snaps at free safety, 270 in the box, 177 at slot cornerback, and even 11 at boundary corner.
Above all, head coach Aaron Glenn has been impressed by Moore’s professional approach.
“He is very, very coachable, and he wants to do the right things,” Glenn told reporters. “He’s still going to make his mistakes, and we all know that, but there are steps he’s taken that we can all see that he’s going to be a hell of a player for us.”
Over the past few seasons, New York has struggled to find a consistent option at safety. Based on early returns, Moore appears to have the prowess for a long-term starting role within Gang Green’s secondary.