NY Jets must stay away from this Malachi Corley clone on Day 2 of the draft

The New York Jets nailed Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft, landing Missouri right tackle Armand Membou with the No. 7 overall pick and finally solidifying their offensive line. Now, with the trenches shored up, attention shifts to Day 2 and the team’s glaring need for offensive playmakers.

Wide receiver remains a top priority, and with the second round looming, one name continues to float to the top of fan wishlists: Missouri’s Luther Burden III. Once seen as a possible first-round talent, Burden is now arguably the top wideout still on the board.

He has the college production, the name recognition, and the flashy film, but his stock has quietly slipped in recent weeks, and there’s growing belief around the league that NFL teams don’t view him as highly as the media does.

That disconnect should be a red flag for fans, especially when the comparisons to Malachi Corley start flying. Like Corley, Burden is a dynamic YAC threat with a running back play style and some questions about his polish as a route runner.

The NY Jets shouldn't draft Luther Burden III on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft

Jets fans don’t need a reminder of how last year’s third-round swing at that exact profile turned out. And if they do, the stat line will jog their memory.

Corley finished his rookie season with just three catches for 16 yards and struggled to carve out any meaningful role in the offense. His debut year was defined by his Halloween night blunder when he dropped the ball short of the goal line for a fumble in the Jets' Week 9 win over the Houston Texans.

Now, Corley is on the roster bubble heading into Year 2, and his future with the team is anything but guaranteed. He will be fighting for a roster spot this summer.

That’s what makes the Burden discussion so tricky. On paper, Burden is the kind of prospect who grabs attention. He posted 86 catches for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023, earning second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC honors.

But his 2024 campaign told a different story. With shaky quarterback play and a struggling Missouri offense, Burden’s production dipped, and he finished with just 61 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns.

He managed just 10 receptions of 20-plus yards and averaged a modest 11.1 yards per catch — hardly the explosive numbers expected from a top-tier YAC weapon.

Beyond the stats, Burden projects as a slot-exclusive wideout at the next level with limited versatility and poor blocking ability. He thrives when the ball is in his hands, but getting him open consistently is still a work in progress.

That player archetype — dynamic after the catch, but limited as a true receiver — doesn't have a stellar track record of success at the NFL level. For every Deebo Samuel, there are far more Malachi Corleys and Amari Rodgers types.

The Jets have seen how that story plays out firsthand. The last thing they need is a sequel.

If the Jets are serious about adding a pass catcher on Day 2, they can’t afford to chase the same mistake twice. Burden might have the name value, but the fit and the risk feel all too familiar.

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