Entering his rookie season, Jets wide receiver Malachi Corely faced an uphill climb to get more playing time and earn the trust of veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
After impressing during training camp, Gang Green’s third-round pick from this past April’s draft faded to the periphery of the team’s offense as Rodgers looked to gel with Garrett Wilson and his familiar target Allen Lazard.
Corley appeared in just three of the Jets’ first seven games and managed one catch for four yards on one target while seeing sparse playing time. And when he finally saw his number called in the red zone on a running play, the rookie had an embarrassing moment: An 18-yard would-be touchdown run against Houston was called back when replay showed he dropped the ball short of the goal line.
Jets offensive play-caller Todd Downing admitted on Thursday the rookie has “certainly gone through the season wanting more opportunities” and has been learning how to handle that lack of playing time in “better and more mature ways.”
After the departure of Mike Williams and the addition of another former Rodgers teammate in Green Bay, Davante Adams, Corley got a consistent run of play – culminating in being on the field for 60 percent of the offense’s snaps (41 of 68 plays) in Week 12. But all that time translated to just one catch (on two targets) for eight yards. He was inactive for the next two weeks and did not play last Sunday against the Rams.
Despite that, Downing sees a receiver not playing due more to circumstance than skill level.
“Malachi’s got a bright future in this league and he’s got a skill set that will eventually help teams win football games,” Downing said. “Right now, though, he’s fighting to get the scraps from Davante and [Wilson] and Allen and so on.
“I think he’s learning to be a pro.”
Overall, Corely has been inactive for more games this year (five) than games that have seen him targeted by Rodgers (four). For his rookie season, he has managed just 16 receiving yards on three catches and 26 rushing yards on two carries.
With two games left, Downing indicated the priority is “winning games,” which will mean players who give the offense the best shot at success will be given the opportunity rather than “evaluation” and seeing youngsters like Corely get an extended run.
“We’re gonna do what we feel puts us in the best position to compete and win games,” the play-caller said. “Malachi happens to be in a room that has a lot of talent ahead of him on the depth chart.
“That being said, I think he’s got some pros in front of him that he’s got a chance to learn from.”
While it was then-general manager Joe Douglas who thought highly enough of the Western Kentucky wideout that the Jets attempted multiple times to trade into the second round to nab him, SNY’s NFL Insider Connor Hughes noted at the time. Corley fell to the Jets in the third at 65th overall, but with turnover in the Jets’ front office coming, a change in circumstance could see the 22-year-old kickstart his career in 2025.
