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NY Jets predetermined Malachi Corley pick with must-see 'Draft Day' reference

Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh knew exactly who they wanted
Justin Fried
Justin Fried

The Jet Press

Malachi Corley / Michael Hickey/GettyImages

The NY Jets went into Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft with one goal in mind: draft Malachi Corley. Corley was the Jets' guy — no matter what.

General manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh got their wish when the Jets traded up to the first pick in the third round to select the former Western Kentucky standout.

As it turns out, this was the Jets' plan all along. The Jets' social media shared a supposedly 100 percent real text exchange between Douglas and Saleh from this morning that reaffirmed the team's intent to draft Corley tonight.

Douglas sent Saleh a photo of Corley with a text that read "No matter what" — an incredible reference to the movie "Draft Day." If you know, you know. Saleh responded back with the same thing, "No matter what."

The Jets were determined to land Corley no matter what it took. Mission accomplished.

The NY Jets made it their draft-day goal to draft Malachi Corley

The Jets reportedly made numerous attempts to trade up into the second round to draft Corley, although they were denied each time. The team spent the entire night trying to make sure Corley ended up in Florham Park.

In the end, the Jets were able to find a trade partner in the Carolina Panthers, who dropped seven spots in the third round for the cost of just a fifth-round pick — the same fifth-round pick the Jets acquired as part of Thursday night's trade down.

Corley set nearly every school record at Western Kentucky, catching more passes than any player in school history. The so-called YAC king has drawn comparisons to Deebo Samuel for his dynamic ability to make plays after the catch.

One might also say he's the Marshawn Lynch of Jarvis Landrys. Think about it.

Corley is expected to step in and immediately contribute as the Jets' possible new starting slot receiver. He joins a revamped receiving corps that also features the likes of Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, and Allen Lazard.

The Jets reportedly had Corley ranked as the No. 4 wide receiver in this class, ahead of every wideout not named Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze.

They found a way to land him in the third round after many attempts to trade up. Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh got their guy. They made their dreams come true.

The Jets made sure to draft Malachi Corley...no matter what.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.