Jets just sent a brutal message about Malachi Moore’s place on the depth chart

The New York Jets lost their preseason opener on Friday night, falling 24-16 at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the defeat doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, it does reveal several details about the current state of the Jets' depth chart.

For example, we received a clearer picture of the ongoing battle at safety in training camp, as Andre Cisco, Dane Belton, and Malachi Moore vie for the starting gig opposite Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Trotting out on the field with the starting defense on the Buccaneers' first possession was Cisco, the incumbent starter from last year who re-signed with New York in free agency. Once Fitzpatrick came off, Belton replaced him, and he and Cisco played with the second-team defense.

Moore, the second-year safety out of Alabama, wouldn't take the field until the third- and fourth-string players came into the game, and that does not bode well for the former fourth-round draft pick.

Malachi Moore falling behind in New York Jets position battle

It seems fairly obvious that the Jets coaching staff has narrowed down the safety competition to Cisco and Belton, considering the order of playing time in Friday night's preseason opener.

Cisco, who already has a year of experience under his belt with Aaron Glenn in 2025, and Belton, who has stood out with his nose for the football and playmaking throughout training camp. Both players appear to have lapped Moore over the last several weeks.

It's a disappointing development for the young defensive back, who played in all 17 games for the Jets last year, starting 14 of them. He recorded 101 tackles, broke up three passes, and made three tackles for loss.

He wasn't particularly good, recording a Pro Football Focus grade of 58.9, ranking 72nd-best out of 98 qualified safeties. But those were supposed to be the lumps that made him a better player heading into Year 2 of his NFL career.

Evidently, Moore hasn't improved this offseason enough to warrant the trust of the coaching staff, and he seems headed for a year on the bench.

It's likely a disappointing notion for the Jets. After all, they invested a fourth-round pick in him during the 2025 NFL Draft and likely envisioned him as a future piece of their secondary.

But all is not lost, and Moore still has time to continue growing and improving his game. Maybe another year watching and learning from the likes of Fitzpatrick will have him ready for the 2027 season.

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