Malachi Corley already fighting an uphill battle for Jets roster spot

The New York Jets had high expectations for Malachi Corley when they used the first pick of the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft to select the so-called "YAC King."

Corley garnered a reputation as an electric playmaker during his time at Western Kentucky, and the Jets hoped they could mold him into a dynamic slot weapon at the NFL level. Just over a year later, Corley finds himself fighting for his job.

ESPN’s Rich Cimini recently hinted that Corley is firmly on the roster bubble heading into training camp, a far cry from where the Jets envisioned him when they traded up to draft him last year.

The second-year wideout was sidelined this spring with an undisclosed injury, missing all of OTAs and minicamp. That's valuable time he could've used to learn his new offense under head coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand.

Corley is already playing catch-up in the Jets' new-look receiving corps, and based on recent comments from his coaching staff, he seems to be on the outside looking in.

Malachi Corley's Jets career is already on life support

He’s going to have to find a way to catch himself up,” Engstrand said bluntly last week when asked about Corley’s status. In a crowded receiver room with very few locked-in spots behind Garrett Wilson, availability is crucial, and Corley hasn’t been available.

Corley’s rookie season went about as poorly as anyone could have imagined. The former Western Kentucky star appeared in just nine games, was a healthy scratch in five others, and played only 83 offensive snaps all year. His final stat line included three catches for 16 yards. That's it.

The low point came on Halloween night. On his first career carry, Corley broke free for what should’ve been an 18-yard touchdown, only to inexplicably drop the ball before crossing the goal line, resulting in a touchback. The Jets won the game, but the premature celebration was an embarrassing moment that defined his rookie year.

With a new regime in place, Corley will have an opportunity at a clean slate, but not a free pass. The Jets' wide receiver room behind Wilson is wide open, with veterans like Josh Reynolds, Allen Lazard, and Tyler Johnson all vying for roles, along with young players such as Xavier Gipson, Arian Smith, and undrafted standout Jamaal Pritchett.

Corley’s inability to play special teams, part of what contributed to his lack of impact as a rookie, will only make his quest for a 53-man roster spot more challenging. Right now, he has a lot of catching up to do.

That doesn't mean it's over yet. Glenn has publicly acknowledged Corley’s YAC ability and hinted at a plan to utilize him. But that plan hinges on his availability, something he hasn’t provided so far.

If Corley can’t return healthy and ready by the start of training camp on July 23, his spot on the roster may slip out of reach. As it stands now, his brief Jets career is already on life support.

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