NY Jets rookie wide receiver is already trending toward bust territory

On Sunday afternoon, the NY Jets suffered another road loss in Miami, marking their official elimination from playoff contention for the 14th consecutive season. This continues a long-standing trend for the Jets, who have faced defeat in Miami every year since 2014.

Despite the loss, Sunday's action had a few silver linings. The main ones were the promising performances from rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis and another solid game from Olu Fashanu. At this point in the season, seeing development from young players is pivotal for 2025 and beyond.

Unfortunately, rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley was inactive for Sunday's game, which isn't the first time this season that has happened. While other rookies are impressive, Corley's lack of playing time and production is concerning, to say the least.

Malachi Corley's rookie season is following a concerning NY Jets trend

Corley has been inactive in four games this season and has only seen playing time in the eight of nine games he has been active for. The Western Kentucky product has just three receptions on six targets for 16 yards. He's also added two carries for 26 yards.

The Jets and now former GM Joe Douglas were famously extremely high on Corley in April, high enough to the point where New York traded up to the 65th pick in the third round to select the 'YAC King' out of Western Kentucky.

A potential slow/developmental start was expected early in the season for Corley as the 22-year-old was going to need time to adjust to the NFL game. However, it's December, and Corley has only played in eight games with just three catches and, to put it simply, has been buried on the depth chart.

It would be premature to call Corley a bust just 14 weeks into his rookie season, but Jets fans have seen this happen before with mid-round wide receivers, especially under Joe Douglas. Some of Douglas' mid-round receiver draft picks include Denzel Mims and Elijah Moore, both in the second round.

On top of this, the Jets have a long list of mid-round wideout misses over the last decade, even before Joe Douglas. Some of these names include ArDarius Stewart, Chad Hansen, Devin Smith, Stephen Hill, and many others.

Corley still has time to turn it around, especially if Gang Green brings in the right coaching staff in 2025. But history is not on Corley's side, and right now, there are no signs of him becoming the 'YAC King' the Jets thought they were getting back in April.

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