Jets could turn 49ers’ WR disaster into golden opportunity

Malachi Corley could be on the move.
New York Jets wide receiver Malachi Corley
New York Jets wide receiver Malachi Corley | Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

With just four days until the Aug. 26 roster deadline, trades have been buzzing, with the New York Jets striking two deals to bolster the defensive line on Wednesday. But general manager Darren Mougey may not be ready to hang up the phone just yet.

Gang Green is still looking to improve their receiver room beyond Garrett Wilson, but the team could also ship away a former highly-touted wideout in Malachi Corley.

After the team traded up to select him in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the 23-year-old hardly saw the field as a rookie and has struggled immensely in camp, to the point where he’s on the wrong side of the roster bubble.

Corley is buried on the depth chart behind the likes of Quentin Skinner, Brandon Smith, and even Xavier Gipson, who have all outplayed him this summer.

With the writing on the wall for the Western Kentucky product, it makes sense for Mougey to try and return some value on the “YAC King”. Will Parkinson of the Turn on the Jets podcast recently proposed that one destination could make more sense than anywhere else.

Jets could trade Malachi Corley to the WR-needy 49ers

The 49ers’ wide receiver room is in shambles at the moment, so adding a late pick for a player who was likely getting cut is good business.

Brandon Aiyuk is on track to miss at least a third of the season, Jauan Jennings is dealing with a calf issue (and a contract dispute), and Demarcus Robinson is suspended for three games. Even the depth pieces like Russell Gage, Jordan Watkins, and Jacob Cowing are also dealing with injuries.

Things got so dire in San Francisco that the team acquired former Chiefs wideout Skyy Moore, one of the only receivers who could claim to be as disappointing as Corley. But a reclamation project for the former third-rounder makes sense for a team in desperate need of receiving help.

Additionally, one of Corley’s biggest supporters leading into the draft in Florham Park was then-head coach Robert Saleh, who is back in the Bay Area as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator.

He and Joe Douglas had the ex-All Conference-USA pass-catcher as their fourth-rated receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft and were infamously determined to bring him to New York by any means necessary, and Corley’s the exact type of receiver designed to thrive in Kyle Shanahan’s system.

He’s long had success unlocking versatile playmakers with speed and vision after the catch, which is exactly what Corley did in his senior season at Western Kentucky, where he caught 101 passes for 1,295 yards and 11 touchdowns.

When entering the league, Corley was even compared to former 49ers star Deebo Samuel. For San Francisco, giving up a future Day 3 pick (or likely a swap of Day 3 picks) on a player who needs a change of scenery is the definition of a no-risk, high-reward gamble.

It’s a move that makes sense on paper for both sides. The Jets are reshaping their roster, the 49ers are scrambling to fill holes, and Corley is stuck in the mud. Sometimes, those are the types of low-profile deals that end up working out best for all parties.

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