The Jets have had a way, off and on, with uncovering fourth-round gems. And they may have done it again with the selection of Malachi Moore 130th overall at this year's NFL Draft.
"I've been dreaming of this ever since I started playing football as a little kid in the first grade," the Alabama safety told newyorkjets.com senior reporter Eric Allen in his first postdraft interview as a member of the Jets. "To finally get here, all the memories of early workouts, late nights, the ups and downs of what it took to get here, all the sacrifices I had to make and my family had to make — it definitely all hits you at one time."
OK, so every player is happy to be drafted. No big deal there. But not every player has played in and won a national championship on the FBS level. Moore, in the first of his five seasons at 'Bama, was a starter on the Tide's national championship team, then went to "the Nati' " again the next year, a loss.
Moore also enjoyed a long career with the storied program (64 games, 46 starts), and until the 2024 season, he spent his 'Bama career playing for head coach Nick Saban, another plus for the young man from Trussville, AL.
"I took a lot from him," Moore said. "The biggest thing was to focus on the process. Don't be results-oriented, just be where your feet are and keep working hard. That was the thing about Coach Saban that I admired so much was his schedule. Each and every day he would eat his oatmeal cream pie or drink his coffee or get ready for practice, always on a routine. I can respect that because he was getting the most out of his 24 hours."
One more positive just from Moore's choice of college. He was the fifth of the Jets' first five draft picks and the fourth of those five to get his football education in the Southeastern Conference.
"We matched up with each other," Moore said of some occasional run-ins with second-round TE Mason Taylor from LSU and fellow fourth-round WR Arian Smith from Georgia (but not so much with Round 1 RT Armand Membou of Missouri). "We're going to be friends and teammates now that we're not rivals in the SEC. Both of them are great players, both highly scouted when we were playing them on our scouting report. I know what they're capable of, I've watched them throughout their college careers."
But so much for the school and the conference. What are the positives about Moore the player? For one, he's got incredible position curiosity and flexibility.
"I played free safety, strong safety, nickel — and I played even a little corner at practice from time to time," he said. "That's something I pride myself in is being versatile, because you never know who's going to go down in a game. I want to make sure I'm prepared, if I'm in those situations, to succeed."
Moore sounds like the team leader type. And in fact he was named a 'Bama team captain his final two seasons.
"I look at leadership as a privilege. I feel it's something that's earned every single day," he said. "Being a leader brings pressure, but pressure is a privilege, too. A lot of people expect a lot out of you. To whom much is given, much is required. So I love being a leader. It's something I believe I was naturally born to do."
See photos of the 2025 NFL Draft class, including T Armand Membou (Missouri), TE Mason Taylor (LSU), CB Azareye'h Thomas (Florida State), WR Arian Smith (Georgia), DB Malachi Moore (Alabama), LB Francisco Mauigoa (Miami) and DE Tyler Baron (Miami).
Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou (79) sets up at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) runs a reception for a gain before being tackled by UCLA defensive back Ramon Henderson (11) during the second half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Florida State defensive back Azareye'h Thomas (20) sets up for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) runs against Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Alabama DB Malachi Moore walks off the field postgame.
Miami's Francisco Mauigoa during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord (6) reaches for his fumble while tackled by Miami defensive lineman Tyler Baron (9) during the first half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou (79) walks up to the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) runs a reception for a gain before being tackled by UCLA defensive back Ramon Henderson (11) during the second half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou (79) sets up at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) runs in for a touchdown after a catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UAB, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou (79) sets up at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Washington State linebacker Francisco Mauigoa gestures during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado State, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Missouri guard Armand Membou, left, in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Buffalo Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) celebrates a first down in the first half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Florida State defensive back Azareye'h Thomas (20) breaks up a pass intended for Syracuse wide receiver Damien Alford (5) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) sets up for a play against Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Florida State defensive back Azareye'h Thomas (20) sets up for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) makes a catch in front of Tennessee defensive back Brandon Turnage (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022 in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) is tripped by Southern California safety Kamari Ramsey, bottom, during the first half of an NCAA college football game Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) makes the catch against Ohio State during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football semifinal playoff game, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) celebrates after overtime over Texas in overtime of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) leaps over UCLA defensive back Jaylin Davies (6) for a gain during the second half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Florida State defensive back Azareye'h Thomas participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, February 28, 2025. (Brooke Sutton via AP)
Ball State quarterback Kadin Semonza throws the ball under pressure from Miami defensive lineman Tyler Baron (9) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 in Miami. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
Florida A&M running back Thad Franklin Jr. (23) is stopped short of the goal line by Miami linebacker Francisco Mauigoa, center, during the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) runs past Miami defensive lineman Tyler Baron after a reception during the second half of the Pop Tarts Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Azareye'h Thomas (20) follows a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tennessee defensive lineman Tyler Baron (9) returns a fumble for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UConn Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) carries in the first half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Louisville quarterback Jack Plummer (13) scrambles as he looks for a teammate under pressure from Miami linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (51) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Alabama DB Malachi Moore breaks up a pass during a matchup with the Auburn Tigers.
Alabama DB Malachi Moore hypes up the crowd during a game against the Auburn Tigers.
Washington State linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (51) lines up for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Idaho, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Miami's Francisco Mauigoa during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
North Carolina State's MJ Morris (7) passes the ball past Miami's Francisco Mauigoa (51) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
West's Brady Cook (12), of Missouri, scrambles out of the pocket as East's Tyler Baron (99), of Miami, pursues in the first half of the East West Shrine Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Did we mention Moore loves playing special teams. With all these pluses, how did he drop into the Day 3 pool?
He's not the biggest safety body around (5-11, 196), and he had some missed-tackle issues playing deep safety for the first time last season. He also was battling an injury, reported to be a hernia, for a while that required surgery and cost him the Tide's bowl game plus the combine testing and Alabama's first pro day. But he came back for the second pro day to turn in a good showing with a 4.57 in the 40, and a 10-6 broad jump.
All this and Moore has thumbed his nose at superstition by wearing uniform No. 13, at Hewitt-Trussville HS and all the way through his Alabama years. He can't wear it with the Jets — it's retired in honor of the late, great WR Don Maynard — but that hasn't dimmed his enthusiasm for trading in 'Bama red for Jets green.
"It definitely means a lot," Moore said of the Jets making their first draft-day trade of the GM Darren Mougey/HC Aaron Glenn era to move up 15 spots in Round 4 and grab him. "For them to look at me and feel like I can contribute to the success of this organization, I'm excited, man. I'm truly blessed."
