Malachi Moore

Career StatsD+

Year	Team	GP	INT	PD	Tkl
Career		17	—	3	101
2025		17	0	3	101

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Jets landed an exceptional value play by securing Malachi Moore at just $1.3M per year, earning this deal an A- CVI that represents one of the better safety contracts signed this cycle. Locking up a rotational player at well below-market rates for four years gives New York remarkable cost certainty at a position where even depth pieces routinely command $2-3M annually. At 25, Moore sits in the prime age window for safeties, meaning the Jets are buying his peak years rather than paying for past production or hoping for future development. The minimal $900K guarantee keeps the team's risk exposure extremely low while the four-year structure provides roster flexibility through 2028. This is exactly the type of shrewd depth acquisition that allows teams to allocate resources elsewhere — the Jets essentially found starting-caliber insurance at backup prices, creating surplus value that could prove crucial if injuries strike their secondary.

Performance Analysis

Malachi Moore enters the league as a developmental safety for the New York Jets, still finding his footing across 17 career games as a rookie. His overall profile earns a D+ grade, reflecting the growing pains typical of young safeties learning NFL spacing and timing. Against historical rookie benchmarks at the position, Moore's early returns are modest but not alarming for a player still building his NFL foundation. His tackling numbers are a genuine bright spot — Moore posts 5.94 tackles per game, well above the NFL average of 3.85 and approaching the elite threshold of 6.81. That production signals real instincts in run support and willingness to close downhill. The concern lies in pass defense, where his 0.18 pass deflections per game trails the NFL average of 0.30 significantly, suggesting he still struggles in coverage assignments and recognition of route concepts. Moore carries a C trend heading into his sophomore season, which leaves meaningful room for growth if the Jets invest in his development. The tackle volume is an encouraging baseline — coverage refinement is the next developmental hurdle that will define his ceiling. If Moore can close the gap in pass deflections while maintaining his run-stopping production, a legitimate starter role is a realistic outcome within the next two seasons.

Current Sentiment

Malachi Moore enters the 2026 NFL season riding a wave of genuine momentum after a breakout rookie campaign that exceeded nearly all preseason expectations for a depth safety on the New York Jets. His ability to earn a performance-based bonus of over one million dollars speaks to consistent, measurable contributions that the organization formally recognized, elevating his standing beyond a typical late-roster addition. Media coverage throughout his debut season was uniformly complimentary, highlighting his growth within the Jets' secondary and his readiness to compete for meaningful snaps heading into year two. Moore's first career start drew favorable reviews, and his situational awareness — evidenced by locating a fumble in a live-game scenario — suggests a player with strong football instincts that coaches value. While he remains a developmental player without the statistical résumé of an established starter, the narrative surrounding Moore is one of upward trajectory, making him one of the more quietly compelling young safeties to monitor as training camp approaches.