The Jets moved back into Round 4 in a trade with Philadelphia, obtaining the pick No. 130 and selecting Alabama S Malachi Moore at the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon.
Moore (5-11, 196) was named a first-team All-SEC player this past season, and was a second-team All-SEC as a true freshman in 2020. He was a four-year starter who also took 486 career snaps on special teams (on kickoff and punt coverage). He also holds the distinction of being the first freshman DB to start in an Alabama season opener since Minka Fitzpatrick. In high school at Hewitt-Trussville in Trussville, AL, Moore played WR as a freshman on the varsity and shifted to CB for his sophomore season. He then took over at safety before his senior season.
At the NFL Combine in February in Indianapolis Moore was clocked in 4.57 in the 40, 10-6 in the broad jump, had a 36-inch vertical jump and 15 reps in the bench press.
In his analysis, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote: “Moore can play all the safety spots but is more effective in coverage than he is when helping against the run. He has average top-end speed but makes up for it with good awareness and ball location when playing down the field. Moore could be asked to line up as a nickelback or split safety but solid backup might be as high as his ceiling goes.”
Moore is 14th Alabama player taken by Jets in the franchise’s 66 drafts. Most recently, they took S Jaylen Key (Mr. Irrelevant) in Round 7, No. 257 last year. Of course the most famous pick from the Crimson Tide was QB Joe Namath (Round 1, No. 2 overall) of 1965 AFL Draft. Other Bama picks in Round 1 were: QB Richard Todd (1976), DL Marty Lyons (1979), CB Dee Milliner (2013), DL Quinnen Williams (2019).
The Jets have made strong selections over the years in the fourth round. Since 2000 in that round they have selected WR Jerricho Cotchery (2004), S Kerry Rhodes (2005), WR Brad Smith and RB Leon Washington (2006), Joe McKnight (2010) and Bilal Powell (2011). DL Micheal Clemons (’22) and RB Braelon Allen (’24) are among the Round 4 players on the current roster.