How a Lions player changed the New York Jets draft board

REPORTING LIVE FROM FLORHAM PARK, NJ—Relationships matter in the NFL. The New York Jets know that well.

Not only is their new head coach, Aaron Glenn, a product of those relationships as a former player, scout, and assistant across the league, but his roster-building approach is also along those same lines.

With the 2025 draft finished, the Jets have shown how meaningful those relationships can be.

Jets speak to Lions’ Pro Bowl safety

The excitement was palpable when Glenn began speaking about fourth-round safety Malachi Moore. The Alabama product was considered a quality value for the team when they made the selection, and may even compete for a starting job this year.

But how did the team scout the young Moore? What made the Jets believe he could become a starting-caliber player?

One key conversation from Glenn to his former player made all the difference in the world.

“I talked to (Detroit Lions starting safety) Brian Branch before the draft, and he gave me some really good insight on that player,” Glenn revealed. “Actually, he was the starter right before Branch actually ended up getting the job; he had an injury. Him being a captain that tells what he is, so he’s going to come in and have a chance to compete for a safety spot.”

Glenn was the defensive coordinator in Detroit over the last couple of years and helped Branch reach Pro Bowl status last season. His versatility as a player allowed Glenn to be used all over the field.

That’s something the Jets are hoping to do with Moore moving forward. And the comments from Branch only helped the team out in that way.

How Branch described Moore

“The first thing that came out of his (Branch’s) mouth was, ‘dog.’ Listen, when you hear that, I mean shoot that gets you excited about the player, and then having
a chance to watch him on tape and see exactly how he operates, man, listen, he fits us to a tee,” Glenn said. “I’m excited to have that player. Again, he has some versatility, and I see him being utilized just like that.”

Glenn has clarified what kind of player the Jets have been searching for all offseason. The draft was just an extension of that.

And the fact that Moore is widely considered the team’s top value pick shows he knows what he can bring to the roster.

“A fast, physical, relentless player who’s going to compete his tail off for as long as it takes every practice, every game,” Moore said Saturday. “Somebody who’s well prepared and is a fearless competitor.”

Nothing will be handed to the Alabama product. As a fourth-round pick, he’ll have to earn all the playing time he can get.

However, with Brian Branch’s seal of approval and the tape showing a superb leader, the Jets feel they have a diamond in the rough at the safety position.