When the New York Jets traded up to the No. 65 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft to select wide receiver Malachi Corley, fans believed they had landed an instant contributor.
Not so fast.
Dubbed the “YAC King” for his ability to gain yards after the catch, Corley struggled to find a role in the Jets’ offense as a rookie.
The Western Kentucky product finished his rookie year with just 83 offensive snaps in nine games. He was a healthy scratch in eight games.
His most notable opportunity came in Week 10 on Thursday Night Football against the Houston Texans, when he committed a costly blunder. Just before crossing the goal line on a reverse, Corley dropped the ball in celebration. What should have been his first NFL touchdown became a careless turnover.
Corley finished the 2024 season with three catches on six targets for 16 yards, along with two rushes for 26 yards.
With Tanner Engstrand now running the offense as the Jets’ new coordinator, expectations for Corley in 2025 are being redefined. The good news? Engstrand’s scheme might finally unlock Corley’s potential.
Last season, Engstrand’s Detroit Lions sent a receiver in motion on 74.5% of their plays, the fifth-highest rate in the NFL. By contrast, the Jets ranked 25th, using motion on just 54.3% of offensive snaps.
Corley excels in motion, on gadget plays, and when running quick-hitting routes that allow him to work in space. In an archaic offense built by Nathaniel Hackett, the Jets struggled to find ways to utilize him after trading up to the top of the third round to draft him.
If Engstrand can replicate the usage he found with Jameson Williams in Detroit, via jet sweeps, end-arounds, and RPOs, Corley could emerge as a key piece in New York’s offense.
Should things click, Corley has the skill set to break out in 2025 and potentially solidify himself as the Jets’ No. 2 wide receiver, especially given the current lack of options at the position behind Garrett Wilson.
Corley’s resurgence needs to start with impressing the coaches on the practice field. He struggled to earn playing time as a rookie due to the rawness he displayed behind closed doors. If the Jets trusted Corley, he would have played more.
Now, Corley must start over with a new regime that did not draft him. Despite his third-round draft status, Corley has everything to prove in 2025.
Today, the Jets begin voluntary OTAs in Florham Park. It marks the start of a long journey for Corley on the way to earning a role in the Jets’ 2025 offense. If he can win the coaches’ trust in practice, there is a tailor-made role for Corley in Engstrand’s offense.