New York Jets 2024 third-round pick and wide receiver Malachi Corley had what was nothing short of a disastrous first season in the NFL.
Corley played in just nine games (one start), was a healthy scratch for a handful, and caught three passes for 16 yards. He was also responsible for one of the most forgettable moments of the Jets’ entire 2024 campaign after his Halloween night debacle when he let go of the ball right before crossing the goal line on what would’ve been an 18-yard touchdown.
Despite showing obvious excitement for Corley after drafting him, ESPN’s Rich Cimini notes that it wasn’t long before the previous regime was down on the Western Kentucky product.
“For all the draft-day fanfare, Corley never was embraced by the previous coaching staff — which noticed immediately that his route running lacked precision, likely the byproduct of having a limited route tree at WKU,” Cimini wrote.
“His maturity also came under scrutiny, with some in the organization privately questioning his approach, according to people with knowledge of the situation.”
Talk about another stain on the previous Jets regime.
You would think the group would have done enough homework on Corley to know he wasn’t that great of a route-runner. The fact that the coaching staff was so quick to be down on that aspect of his game instead of simply coaching him up is both baffling and frustrating.
Corley’s second season in the NFL isn’t off to a good start. He sat out mandatory minicamp with an injury, which was critical because the sophomore wideout is tasked with learning a new offense.
“He’s going to have to find a way to catch himself up,” offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said.
As a result of what happened in 2024, and with a new regime that isn’t attached to him in 2025, Cimini thinks Corley is on the chopping block going into training camp.
“A lot has changed in 14 months,” Cimini wrote. “Rodgers, Douglas and Saleh are gone; Corley could be, too, if he doesn’t alter his career trajectory.
“Corley, whose only notable moment as a rookie was an embarrassing ball drop/fumble at the goal line that resulted in a touchback (in a prime-time game, no less), faces an intense battle in training camp for a roster spot,” he added. “The new regime has no allegiance to him, which means there’s no benefit of the doubt.”
The Jets’ wide receivers group is currently led by Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and Josh Reynolds, so three spots figure to be locked in, barring Lazard getting traded to reunite with his old buddy, Aaron Rodgers, in Pittsburgh.
From there, one can assume that rookie Arian Smith, who has managed to stand out this offseason, will be on the opening day roster, also, and free-agent signing Tyler Johnson has a good shot with the lack of experience across the rest of the room.
That could leave just one spot for Corley to make the cut, which very much puts him in danger when training camp opens later this month.
