Jets Trade With Eagles Landed ‘Steal of the Draft'

The New York Jets have been wheeling and dealing this offseason, with new faces in the front office, coaching staff, and at quarterback.

The 2025 NFL Draft was no exception, as the Jets struck a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, sending the No. 145 pick in the fifth round and the No. 207 pick in the sixth round to land the No. 130 pick in the fourth round.

With the No. 130 pick, the Jets drafted Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore, who was highly praised by the front office. Following the draft, Darren Mougey told reporters about how much they “coveted” Moore as a prospect.

“Malachi Moore is a guy we targeted. Obviously a very instinctive tough player, he was a team captain, he is made of the right stuff at safety. He was a guy that we really coveted and targeted early in the day. Glad we added him,” Mougey said.

Pro Football Focus’ Max Chadwick believes Moore could easily be “one of the steals of the draft.”

“He’s one of the more underrated players in this year’s draft class,” Chadwick added.

The Jets moving up to snag Moore was the first official trade of the Mougey era. Despite being a day three pick, NBC draft analyst Connor Rogers believes Moore could be a starting safety opposite of Andre Cisco in 2025.

Prior to the draft, ESPN’s Steve Muench wrote of Moore: “Moore is fluid and quick enough to shadow slot receivers underneath. He’s quick to trigger, closes well breaking on passes and can deliver big hits in coverage. He gets to depth and reads the quarterback when he lines up at linebacker. Moore tracks the ball well when playing high, and he picked off seven passes in five seasons at Alabama. He’s undersized but doesn’t shy away from contact. He chases with good effort and finished third on the team with 70 tackles in 2024”

Moore was a five-year player at Alabama, captaining the defense. Moore recorded eight pass deflections, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, a sack and a career-high 70 tackles. He brings a blend of aggressiveness and leadership to a young Jets core.

Jets Trade With Eagles Landed ‘Steal of the Draft’

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