NY Jets news: Mike Vrabel interview, Malachi Corley injury, Jets claim 2 players

On the same day the first NY Jets head coach candidate was revealed, the team's reported top option officially became available. Former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is eligible to interview with NFL teams as of Monday, and he's certain to have his share of suitors.

Vrabel had spent the last year serving as a coaching and personnel consultant with the Cleveland Browns, but his contract officially expired on Monday. That means he's now permitted to interview with NFL teams.

The Jets have reportedly made Vrabel their top target in the coaching carousel, and reports suggest there's mutual interest between the two. It shouldn't take long for the Jets to bring him in for an interview.

While the early wave of known candidates — Ron Rivera and Rex Ryan — has been underwhelming, the Jets are still in the early stages of their search. Vrabel figures to be atop their list of targets.

Other NY Jets news:

Malachi Corley injury update

The nightmare rookie season for Malachi Corley continued on Sunday as Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich told reporters that the rookie wideout suffered an elbow injury in the team's Week 17 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Corley was noticeably absent in garbage time on Sunday, as the Jets opted to trot out the likes of Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson, and even Jeremy Ruckert at wide receiver in the fourth quarter all while their third-round rookie was nowhere to be found.

It's unclear how severe Corley's injury is, but it was serious enough to keep him out for the remainder of the game. The Western Kentucky product played three special-teams snaps, more than doubling his total on the season.

Corley has not played an offensive snap since Week 13 and has been a healthy scratch more times than he has caught a pass this season. His latest injury is just another chapter in a disastrous rookie year.

Jets claim 2 players off waivers

The Jets did a little bit of late-season housekeeping on Monday, claiming a pair of ex-Commanders draft picks off waivers. The team claimed defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis and linebacker Jamin Davis, releasing kicker Anders Carlson and placing safety Chuck Clark on the IR to make room.

A former second-round pick of the Commanders in the 2022 NFL Draft, Mathis was a highly-touted Alabama recruit whose NFL career has been marred by injury. He's under contract in 2025 and could be a fun reclamation project for a Jets team that needs interior depth along their defensive line.

Davis was a first-round pick of Washington's in the 2021 draft, starting at linebacker each of his first three years with the team. He converted to defensive end in the 2024 offseason and was released in October before the end of his rookie contract.

Mathis and Davis could have the opportunity to play in the Jets' season finale against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, as both players aim to make a case for sticking around next year.