Malachi Moore S Alabama | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Malachi Moore S Alabama
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Man-Zone Free Safety | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.50 seconds (73%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 23.9 DOB: 09/13/2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Man-Zone Free Safety | |
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.50 seconds (73%*) | |
| Age: 23.9 DOB: 09/13/2001 | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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| Overall Rating: | 82.5 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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82% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 78.5 | |
| Tackling: |
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91% |
| Run Defense: |
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82% |
| Coverage: |
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94% |
| Zone: |
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92% |
| Man/Press: |
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89% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#142
Position rank:
#26
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| College Games: 59 College Snaps: 3086 | ||
ESPN RATING: 81/100
College Combine Results
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OVR Rank:
#260
Pos Rank:
#23
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 93/100
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| Ovr Rank: #159 Pos Rank: #13 | ||
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ronnie Hickman - Ohio State |
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86% |
| Kerby Joseph - Illinois |
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82% |
| Renardo Green - Florida State |
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81% |
Drafted: ROUND: 4 - Pick Number: 130 (NYJ)
Draft Profile: Bio
Born into the football-rich soil of Hewitt-Trussville, Alabama, Malachi Moore emerged as one of the state's premier defensive backs, earning a coveted four-star rating across all major recruiting services. The versatile defender caught Nick Saban's eye early, bringing a complete skillset that led to immediate playing time in Tuscaloosa.Moore's impact was felt immediately in the crimson and white, starting 11 games as a freshman and earning Second-Team All-SEC honors. His ball-hawking instincts showed up early and often, notching three interceptions and forcing four turnovers in his debut season. The 6'0", 198-pound safety's progression continued through his career, culminating in a stellar 2024 campaign where he earned First-Team All-American honors from Pro Football Focus despite battling through injuries.
His five-year career in Tuscaloosa showcased remarkable consistency and development, accumulating over 200 tackles and establishing himself as a defensive cornerstone. Moore's versatility became his calling card, excelling both as a traditional safety and in the demanding "Star" position in Saban's complex defensive scheme. His final season saw him post career-highs across the board before a season-ending surgery following the Auburn game, but not before cementing his legacy as one of Alabama's most reliable defensive backs.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional route recognition ability shows up repeatedly on tape, particularly in zone coverage where he demonstrates veteran-like understanding of route combinations and quarterback manipulation.
- Natural ball skills jump off the screen - tracks the ball like a receiver and shows aggressive hands at the catch point, routinely turning 50/50 balls into defensive wins.
- Displays advanced football IQ in coverage splits, seamlessly transitioning between deep safety and slot responsibilities while maintaining proper leverage against both run and pass.
- Clean footwork in transition, especially when breaking on underneath routes - shows some serious juice when driving downhill on crossing patterns.
- Elite communication skills evident in pre-snap adjustments, consistently getting the secondary aligned correctly and showing real command of defensive checks.
- Reliable wrap-up tackler who takes intelligent angles to the ball - rarely sees his tackles broken due to excellent form and understanding of leverage.
- Versatility is a major selling point - showed he can play single-high, two-deep, in the slot, and even some dime linebacker when needed.
- Special teams experience adds immediate value - showed up consistently in kick coverage and has experience as a punt returner in emergency situations.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Can struggle to disengage from more physical blockers in the run game, particularly when asked to play in the box against pulling guards and tackles.
- While a reliable tackler, doesn't bring the intimidation factor you'd like to see - more of a position tackler than a tone-setter in the secondary.
- Medical history raises some eyebrows - dealt with various injuries throughout his career including a concerning head injury in 2024.
- Lateral quickness can be exposed against shiftier slot receivers, occasionally getting caught flat-footed against sudden direction changes.
- Frame is slightly on the lean side for an NFL safety, which could limit his effectiveness as an in-the-box defender at the next level.
Scouting Report: Summary
Put the tape on and you see a defensive back who processes the game at a high level - the kind of player who could find his role in an NFL defense's sub-packages from day one. The league's shift toward versatile safeties who can match up in man coverage while still handling deep responsibilities plays right into Moore's skillset, even if he might not be a walk-in starter.What jumps out watching Moore's film is his feel for coverage - the way he baits quarterbacks, his understanding of route combinations, and his ability to close space in zone coverage. Teams running pattern-match coverages will appreciate his ability to process information pre-snap and adjust on the fly. His experience in Saban's NFL-style defense means he's already speaking the language of pro football, which should help him contribute early in sub-packages.
Looking at the total package, Moore projects as a valuable depth piece who could develop into a starter by year three if he continues to progress. Smart defensive coordinators will find ways to maximize his coverage instincts in specific packages while he develops into a more complete player. While he might not have the elite physical traits some teams covet at safety, his football IQ and coverage ability make him an interesting target for teams looking to add secondary depth on day three of the draft. The film shows a player who can carve out a role in the right system - particularly for teams that emphasize coverage versatility and pre-snap complexity in their defensive scheme.
Written By:
Wyatt Brooks (SEC)
Malachi Moore percentiles vs other Safetys (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Malachi Moore (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
164.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
37.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.