The New York Jets signed third-round wide receiver Malachi Corley to a four-year, $6.073 million rookie deal on Wednesday that includes a $1.237 million signing bonus. Corley was the 65th overall selection in April's NFL draft after he caught 79 passes for 984 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023 with Western Kentucky. The 22-year-old comes highly touted for his yards-after-the-catch ability but could struggle to find regular playing time out of the slot for the Jets in his rookie season as long as Xavier Gipson stays healthy. However, Corley has drawn comparisons to Deebo Samuel and had 29 touchdowns in his last three seasons in college. If he can overtake Gipson at some point in 2024, he could be a popular waiver-wire pickup in single-year fantasy leagues in an offense led by future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers.
New York Jets wide receiver Malachi Corley is still adjusting to NFL speed and the team's offense, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Specifically, Rosenblatt cautions against automatically viewing Corley as the Jets' No. 3 receiver over Xavier Gipson, who has made several players while taking a significant leap this offseason. As of now, it appears Gipson and Corley are the two candidates vying for the No. 3 receiver role, and it's possible that the former actually has a slight advantage. Of course, Rosenblatt also notes that Corley drew plenty of hype following the draft and "has a lot of talent and made some plays," even if his position on the depth chart is still in flux.
New York Jets rookie third-round wide receiver Malachi Corley (lower body) was a full participant at practice at organized team activities on Tuesday after leaving practice early last week with an undisclosed lower-body injury. Corley made an impressive contested catch in team drills on a pass from veteran backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The 22-year-old's injury from last week obviously wasn't too serious, and Corley is now back in the fold at OTAs gaining valuable repetitions as he learns the Jets offense heading into his first NFL season. If Mike Williams (knee), who is coming off a torn ACL, is healthy, Corley will be the No. 3 option, at best, in New York's offense this year. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has taken a liking to Corley, though, which is a good first step for the youngster.
New York Jets rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley (undisclosed) left organized team activities on Wednesday with a trainer with an undisclosed injury. Corley later returned but was walking with a limp and didn't have his helmet with him. It doesn't appear to be a very serious injury, but the Jets will probably play it safe and hold the 22-year-old out for the rest of the week after taking him with the first pick of the third round in this year's NFL draft out of Western Kentucky. How much Corley is involved in his first year in the league will depend a lot on how healthy and productive new wideout Mike Williams (knee) is after coming off a torn ACL in 2023. Even if Williams stays healthy, Corley will have the inside track to become the team's No. 3 receiver, although it still seems like more of a long shot that he'll be an every-week fantasy starter in redraft leagues in his rookie campaign.
According to a source, the New York Jets had been monitoring rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley as high as pick No. 40 for a potential trade in this year's draft. They ended up selecting him in the third round after trading up to pick No. 65, and general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh were both elated. A veteran scout described Corley as "rugged." Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been excited to work with Corley since watching tape on him last month. The 22-year-old had 29 touchdowns in his last three seasons at Western Kentucky and will give the Jets some solid depth at the position behind Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams in 2024 and beyond. Corley could play right away in the slot for the Jets, but it remains to be seen how his after-the-catch prowess will translate to the NFL.
Joe Douglas Praises Malachi Corley's Run-After-Catch Skills
The New York Jets traded up to the first pick of the third round (No. 65) in the 2024 NFL Draft to select former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley. In a recent media availability, Jets general manager Joe Douglas touted the rookie's run-after-catch skills and believes he's a great fit alongside Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams. "He really excels with the ball in his hands. When guys are really good at running after catch in college, it usually translates well in the pros," Douglas said. "If a guy has the ability to make people miss it's because they're really an elusive high-level athlete and if they're wired to compete. Our coaches are going to use that skill to turn him into an elite route runner." Needless to say, the team has high expectations for the 22-year-old -- and for good reason. In his final two collegiate campaigns, he caught 180 passes for 2,277 yards and 22 touchdowns.
The New York Jets traded up with the Carolina Panthers to select Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley. Corley led the nation in yards after catch over the past two seasons, has great elusiveness, and had the most receptions in the FBS over the past three seasons with 253. The 22-year-old can threaten vertically as well and should be a strong deep threat option for Aaron Rodgers. Corley joins a wide receiver room with star Garrett Wilson and newly acquired Mike Williams. Corley could be a sleeper pick in fantasy this season as he could slot in as the number two option with the injury-prone Mike Williams.
Western Kentucky wide receiver and 2024 NFL Draft prospect Malachi Corley is visiting with the New Orleans Saints on Monday, and he is scheduled to visit with the Seattle Seahawks later in the week. The 22-year-old put his name on the NFL radar after catching 180 passes for 2,279 yards and 22 touchdowns over the last two seasons (26 games). Corley is dangerous after the catch, which has become more coveted in the modern NFL. He is expected to be a Day 2 selection in this month's draft. The Saints are seeking an adequate WR2 behind Chris Olave, while the Seahawks should be content with their top three wideouts in DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Either way, teams are going to go through the process with top prospects.
