Can Malachi Moore still become the Jets' version of Brian Branch?

Malachi Moore was thrust into the spotlight earlier than many expected in his New York Jets career. The 2025 fourth-round pick started 14 games, played 84 percent of the defensive snaps, and finished his rookie year with 101 tackles.

Moore was asked to line up at three different spots in the secondary and contribute on special teams, giving the Jets more than anyone reasonably expected from him in Year 1.

The rookie safety held his own in the process, but the season also exposed the limits of his versatility. He looked comfortable playing downhill near the line of scrimmage. However, he had a much tougher time when the Jets asked him to cover ground as a traditional free safety.

What should Jets fans expect from Moore entering his second NFL season?

Day 60 of your 2026 Jets Camp Countdown belongs to the Alabama Assassin, Moore Than Meets the Eye, and possibly Aaron Glenn’s new Brian Branch (?)...it’s Malachi Moore.

1. Where Malachi Moore stands entering Jets training camp
2. Malachi Moore should have a clear role with the Jets entering Year 2
3. What would make 2026 a success for Malachi Moore
4. Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

Where Malachi Moore stands entering Jets training camp

Moore enters his second training camp with legitimate NFL experience but no guarantee that he will retain his starting job. That's largely due to the Jets' acquisition of veteran Dane Belton in free agency this offseason.

Moore played 31 percent of the Jets’ special teams snaps as a rookie in addition to his heavy defensive workload. The coaching staff used him for 374 snaps at free safety, 326 in the box, and another 200 in the slot.

That is a lot to throw at any rookie, especially one drafted in the fourth round. Moore struggled as a tackler early in the season, but he improved once he settled into the speed of the NFL.

From Week 6 through Week 18, his 9.5 percent missed-tackle rate ranked 19th among 63 qualified safeties. He also recorded 10 run stops over that stretch, the 13th-most at the position. Coverage, however, remained an issue.

Moore allowed a 116.1 passer rating when targeted and received a 54.0 Pro Football Focus coverage grade, which ranked 67th out of 93 qualified safeties. Those numbers help explain why the Jets added former Belton on a one-year, $4 million contract this offseason.

Belton likely enters camp with the early advantage in the competition for the starting strong safety job. He has more experience, better athletic traits, and a stronger history of creating turnovers. Moore will have to earn his snaps this summer.

Malachi Moore should have a clear role with the Jets entering Year 2

The Jets don't need another season of playing Moore everywhere simply because he can hold his own at multiple positions. They already saw where he plays his best football.

Moore lacks the range to handle a full-time free safety role. He ran a 4.57-second 40-yard dash and posted a 6.1 Relative Athletic Score before the draft. Those numbers don't necessarily disqualify him from playing free safety, but they become harder to ignore when paired with his struggles in coverage.

Playing down near the line of scrimmage should give him a much better chance to succeed at the NFL level. Moore could play aggressively against the run and use his physicality without having to cover huge portions of the field.

His instincts become more valuable when the action happens in front of him instead of behind him. That's where the Brian Branch comparison enters the conversation, even if it's a bit of a stretch.

Aaron Glenn used Branch as a movable defensive back in Detroit, often deploying him close to the line of scrimmage. Moore is not the same caliber of athlete or coverage player, so expectations should remain reasonable here. But Glenn can still borrow elements of that role and build a package around what Moore does well.

RELATED: Jets somehow landed one of the NFL's best safeties for almost nothing

The Jets have enough flexibility elsewhere in the secondary to make it work. Minkah Fitzpatrick seems like the favorite to handle the deep safety role. D’Angelo Ponds and Jarvis Brownlee give the coaching staff options in the slot. Moore and Belton can compete for snaps closer to the line of scrimmage.

Glenn should also use plenty of three-safety packages. Moore may lose the official starting competition and still play a notable enough role on defense every week.

Camp Countdown: Your guide to every player on the 2026 Jets roster

What would make 2026 a success for Malachi Moore

Moore winning the starting job would answer every question entering camp, but he doesn't necessarily need to beat out Belton for his second season to qualify as a success.

What he needs to do is establish some sort of a consistent role in the Jets' defense, likely as a traditional box safety who plays near the line of scrimmage. That starts with carrying his late-season tackling improvement into 2026.

Moore must continue making plays against the run and limit the missed tackles that hurt him early last year. He also needs to become less vulnerable when offenses isolate him in coverage.

A regular role in three-safety packages would give Moore the chance to develop without asking him to handle responsibilities that don't fit his skill set. His experience on special teams should also keep him active and involved even if Belton starts.

Moore proved as a rookie that he can handle NFL snaps. The next step is showing that he can turn those snaps into a role the Jets can count on.

He doesn't have to become Glenn's next Brian Branch. Becoming the best version of Malachi Moore should be his top priority.

Recent 2026 Camp Countdown Breakdowns

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