Jets cut promising young WR after refusing to learn multiple roles, ‘I’m a receiver, I don’t…’

Malachi Corley was cut after a dreadful rookie season, and a refusal to play special teams

Joe Douglas spent hours trying to trade up for Malachi Corley on the second day of the 2024 NFL draft. He eventually got a deal done with the Carolina Panthers, trading up from 72 to 65 in the third round to select the wide receiver out of Western Kentucky.

Corley came into the league with a lot of ambition, while declaring his excitement to play with four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers.

Unfortunately, Corley struggled to get on the field early in the year, and in mid-November the GM that had worked so hard to draft him was fired.

By the end of the season, Corley had recorded just three catches for 16 yards. His most memorable play was to deny himself his first NFL touchdown, dropping the football a half-yard short of the goal line while celebrating the score.

He is still in search of that first touchdown score, but will now be doing so elsewhere. Corley had struggled to impress the newly appointed coaching staff and front office, and after being buried on the depth chart at training camp, he was cut.

Corley’s time with the Jets came to an end after just three regular-season receptions, numbers that fell extremely short of the expectations that Douglas and Saleh had for him when they bet on him in the draft.

This week, new information emerged about the former third-rounder’s rookie year, via Connor Hughes on SNY’s Jets Final Drive:

“I was told that there were times the Jets went to him, and they wanted him to learn a handful of different positions, so they could use him in a handful of different ways. He wasn’t putting in the effort to do that stuff.”

Hughes continued, “They wanted to use him on special teams, he went and told Shawn Jefferson, ‘Absolutely not, I’m a receiver, I don’t play special teams’, I’m a receiver’, in fact, I was told he actually skipped one special teams meeting…”

It appeared that this had taken place during Saleh’s tenure in charge, because Corley was not on the field in the early weeks of the season as a rookie.

Even before the Jets traded for Davante Adams, Corley was struggling to see reps, and had just one catch by the time Saleh was fired in October last year.

Corley is now with the Cleveland Browns practice squad, and will need to earn the trust of his new team before he gets those opportunities again in the league.

Jets rookie WR expected to play an early role in 2025

While Corley was moved on, the Jets do have a rookie receiver they’re excited to utilize in the 2025 season.

Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey drafted Arian Smith in the fourth round, and the rookie has impressed at training camp.

Smith, an explosive speed threat that should stretch the field for the Jets offense, is reportedly going to be involved early this season, having earned those reps during camp.