The one Day 3 Jets rookie who could be a surprise Week 1 starter

The New York Jets entered the 2025 NFL Draft with a clear goal: find long-term starters, regardless of position. General manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn weren’t necessarily drafting for depth — they were targeting foundational pieces for the future.

That philosophy led to early-round selections like right tackle Armand Membou and tight end Mason Taylor, both of whom are expected to step into starting roles immediately.

But the Jets may have uncovered another gem later in the draft, one who could crack the starting lineup even sooner than expected. That player is former Alabama safety Malachi Moore.

The fourth-round pick isn’t just a developmental piece for the future. This is a player who has a real chance to earn a starting job by Week 1, especially in a wide-open safety room where nothing is guaranteed.

Malachi Moore could start for the NY Jets as early as Week 1

Tony Adams likely enters the summer penciled in as the Jets’ starting safety opposite Andre Cisco, but that job is far from guaranteed. Adams has started 26 games over the last two seasons and held his own as a serviceable defender.

That said, he’s also been inconsistent, and perhaps most tellingly, was benched last year by team owner Woody Johnson. While Adams is a solid player on a cheap deal, the new regime under Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey has no ties to him. That matters.

Moore, on the other hand, fits exactly what Glenn wants in a defensive back. The former Alabama standout played five seasons in Nick Saban’s defense, starting at multiple positions and even replacing Detroit Lions standout Brian Branch in the “Star” role.

Moore’s intelligence, leadership, and positional flexibility make him a potential Day 3 steal for the Jets. He’s the kind of player who might not wow you athletically, but makes very few mental mistakes — the exact type of defender Glenn is known to elevate.

Adams’ edge in experience shouldn’t be discounted, but Moore offers more upside, especially in a system that values versatility and intelligence on the back end.

Glenn knows what it takes to play as a defensive back in the NFL, and his trust in Moore’s instincts and mental processing could go a long way toward fast-tracking his development.

If Moore proves he can handle the communication responsibilities that come with the role, particularly as a deep safety or interchangeable piece, it’s not hard to imagine him in the starting lineup Week 1.

Cisco is likely locked into one of the starting jobs, but Moore will be competing with Adams and potentially veteran Isaiah Oliver for the other safety spot this summer. There's no reason why the former Alabama star can't win the job outright in training camp.

In fact, Moore also has the versatility to step in as a full-time slot defender if need be. The 23-year-old posted an FBS-best 87.7 Pro Football Focus coverage grade in the slot in 2024. Moore’s 0.34 yards allowed per coverage snap ranked as the best mark among all qualified slot defenders in this draft class.

If the Jets truly value competition under their new regime, Malachi Moore could find his way into the starting lineup faster than anyone imagined.

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