The New York Jets rookie receiver already sees himself as a pair with the No. 1
The New York Jets selected Malachi Corley with the 65th pick of the NFL draft to be a violent thumper at wide receiver. Corley was Aaron Rodgers’ favorite receiver throughout the predraft process. Corley has fully embraced that role, even to the point of dubbing himself and Garrett Wilson a duo.
Corley gave himself and his teammate the nickname “Smash and Dash.”
Smash and Dash🤷🏿♂️ https://t.co/bq9GgDwjGO
— Malachi Corley (@CorleyMalachi) June 7, 2024
It’s pretty obvious that Corley is the smash and Wilson is the dash given the pair’s strengths. Corley is known for gashing opponents with yards after catch, primarily with power rather than finesse. His 5-foot-11, 215-pound frame is like a bulldozer running through tacklers. Meanwhile, Wilson dashes by defenders with his 4.38 speed and route-running technique.
It’s interesting that Corley went straight for the Jets’ No. 1 considering that he is currently No. 4 on the depth chart. He saw some reps with Aaron Rodgers during OTAs before getting injured, but that was primarily due to Mike Williams’ continued absence. Corley will have a steep hill to climb to become that pair with Wilson, especially if Williams returns and plays to his normal standard.
Still, Corley’s work ethic and mindset can certainly help him get there. He has an opportunity to with the kickoff returner position considering his ability to make tacklers miss. If he expands his route tree even somewhat as a rookie, his elite YAC skill can set him up for a big season.
