NY Jets question Malachi Corley's 'maturity' amidst disaster rookie season

The NY Jets had exceptionally high expectations for Malachi Corley when the team drafted him with the first pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. In fact, they made it abundantly clear just how highly they thought of the former Western Kentucky wide receiver.

The Jets leaked that Corley was their fourth-highest-rated wide receiver in the entire 2024 class shortly following the draft. Joe Douglas and company preferred Corley to the likes of Brian Thomas Jr., Ladd McConkey, etc. That's what's made his disastrous rookie season even more confounding.

Corley has struggled to even find his way onto the field and has been a regular healthy scratch. Based on the comments made by Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich on Monday, it sounds like the reason for this might be more than on-field issues.

Ulbrich commented on Corley's "maturity" on Monday, noting that while there has been "major improvement," he still "has a ways to go." That’s hardly a glowing assessment of the rookie wide receiver the Jets once raved about.

Malachi Corley trending toward bust territory for the NY Jets

The Jets knew that Corley was a work in progress as a route runner when they drafted him. The self-proclaimed "YAC King" thrived as a dangerous playmaker with the ball in his hands but was still a little rough around the edges as an overall wide receiver.

The hope was that the Jets would find ways to get him involved on offense while he continued to develop his game. The team also hoped that he would be able to carve out a role on special teams, particularly as a return specialist.

Instead, Corley failed to impress on special teams in the summer and was unable to earn a regular role on offense. He's played only 83 total offensive snaps (almost entirely due to injuries elsewhere) and just five special-teams snaps.

Corley's most notable contribution to this point came in Week 9 when he wiped out what should've been his first career touchdown by dropping the ball just before crossing the goal line. That play was one of just five touches for Corley this season.

The Jets clearly don't believe Corley is ready to contribute on offense right now, which calls into question the team's pre-draft analysis. But what's even more concerning is Ulbrich's comments on his maturity.

It's never a good sign for a coach to be talking about the maturity levels of a rookie who can't get on the field. That's not typically a strong indicator of future success.

Perhaps the next regime will feel differently about the young wide receiver. Corley will have an opportunity to start fresh with a new coaching staff in 2025.

But as it stands right now, his rookie season has been nothing short of an unmitigated disaster. He'll be fighting for his roster spot next summer.

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