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The cuts across the NFL keep coming as free agency approaches. Today the Texans got out the machete, and among their moves was to cut loose safety Rahim Moore, who had just signed a 3-year $12 million deal as a free agent last offseason.
Last offseason, Moore was considered by many to be among the top safeties on the market. But he wasn't swiped up on the first day of free agency, and the Raiders eventually opted for Nate Allen instead.
Neither Allen nor Moore were what their respective teams had hoped for them. Allen was suffered multiple injuries that had him miss 11 games and only finish three games healthy. Moore appeared in seven games last season. He was benched in favor of converted cornerback, Andre Hal.
By any measure, it was a terrible season for Moore. He was not nearly the player he had been in Denver for the previous three seasons under Del Rio. He was missing tackles and blowing coverages all over the field for Texans.
Moore was originally drafted by the Broncos in the second round of the 2011 draft. His rookie season. After a rocky rookie season, Moore improved quite a bit in his second season as the full time starter with the arrival of Del Rio as defensive coordinator.
He improved each of his three seasons under Del Rio. In the 2014 season, spending time at both free safety and strong safety he played both the run and the pass quite well with 5 turnovers on a career high 4 interceptions and a forced fumble with fumble recovery. He added 6 passes defended.According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just 0.25 yards per coverage snap which was among the lowest in the NFL.
After having not been a first day free agent pickup last year, Moore is even less likely to be a top priority for any team. But if there is any coach who could get the best out of him it's Del Rio, which could make Moore a bargain signing and potential reclamation project.
The sixth-year defensive back grew up in Los Angeles and attended UCLA for college so coming to Oakland would be somewhat of a homecoming for him. He is just 26-years-old.
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