Jets officially admit to biggest draft mistake in years with latest roster cut

The New York Jets have officially cut ties with wide receiver Malachi Corley, ending one of the most disappointing draft experiments in recent team history.

Just 16 months removed from being hailed as one of the previous regime’s prized selections, Corley’s short-lived stint in Florham Park will now be remembered more for off-field concerns and disastrous on-field results than any flashes of potential.

The Jets traded up to select Corley with the 65th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft a little over a year ago. The previous regime of Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas was infamously enamored with the so-called "YAC King."

The organization even had Corley ranked as their No. 4 wide receiver in the entire draft class, ahead of guys like Brian Thomas Jr. and Ladd McConkey, who each topped 1,000 yards as rookies. Corley, meanwhile, finished his rookie season with a measly three catches for 16 yards.

Jets officially pull the plug on the Malachi Corley experiment

When all is said and done, the Western Kentucky product might ultimately be most remembered for his infamous blunder on Halloween night against the Texans last season.

Corley appeared set to score his first career touchdown, only to drop the ball short of the goal line at the 1-yard line in what instantly became a lowlight of the Jets’ year.

Instead of a breakout moment, it might have become the lasting image of his short-lived tenure in New York. That play perfectly encapsulates Corley's career in New York.

The 2024 third-round pick entered his second season with the Jets, looking to make a positive first impression on his new coaching staff. It was a chance to start fresh with a new regime and a wide-open wide receiver depth chart, but Corley quickly plummeted down the depth chart.

An injury sidelined him for much of the spring, and by the time he returned for training camp, Corley was almost exclusively working with the third-team offense. He was realistically WR9 or WR10 on the depth chart by the end of the preseason.

His release comes as no surprise to anyone who has been following the Jets closely this summer. He was firmly outplayed by other roster hopefuls such as Brandon Smith, Jamaal Pritchett, and Quentin Skinner, let alone veterans like Josh Reynolds and Tyler Johnson.

The fact that Corley played significant snaps in the team's preseason finale on Friday should have been a clear indicator that he had virtually no chance of making the 53-man roster.

It's possible the Jets could bring Corley back on their practice squad if he passes through waivers unclaimed, but it would probably be best for both sides to move on at this stage.

Corley could benefit from a change of scenery as he attempts to salvage his NFL career, while the Jets are better off reserving practice squad spots for players who have at least shown flashes of being NFL-caliber.

The Jets have had their fair share of draft misfires over the years, but Malachi Corley will rank right up there with the worst in recent memory.

Jets officially admit to biggest draft mistake in years with latest roster cut

Jets officially pull the plug on the Malachi Corley experiment

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