Jets' Garrett Wilson: Rookie WR Malachi Corley 'looks like a problem, a little bowling ball out there'

In 2023, the Jets’ most obvious weak point was predictably their quarterback, but they also had a deficient roster of receivers.

Given a year to learn from their mistakes, New York has operated accordingly in 2024, adding big-bodied veteran Mike Williams and selecting Western Kentucky product Malachi Corley with the first pick of the third round of the 2024 draft.

A delightful surprise has surfaced from Jets OTAs, where Corley, who stands at 5-foot-11 and weighs 215 pounds, is demonstrating himself as a physical powerhouse.

“He’s a brute,” teammate Garrett Wilson said of Corley on Wednesday. “Once he catches that ball he’s got great instinct of where the defense is going to be at and how to make someone miss. Just like I was saying, he can go over the middle, take hits. I’m excited to see him run with the ball once we got pads on because I know I wouldn’t be trying to tackle him. He looks like a problem, a little bowling ball out there. So, I’m excited.”

Corley has carried a comparison to 49ers star Deebo Samuel with him into the NFL, and while they might not be the same player, the physical nature with which each plays seems to be a commonality. That fits what quarterback Aaron Rodgers wanted from his receiving corps as he prepares to embark on his second — and hopefully, first fully healthy — season with the Jets.

“I love who we brought in,” Rodgers said during a recent appearance on The Official Jets Podcast. “Malachi was my favorite receiver in the draft.

Although his qualifications may not have been the best on paper, I strongly believed that his mentality and intensity would align with our objectives. Therefore, I took pleasure in recruiting him.

Corley is already making a positive impact on his teammates despite it being early days. If he meets the raised expectations, Rodgers could potentially have a versatile and skilled group of three targets at his disposal in 2024. This may significantly contribute to developing an offense that failed to pull its weight in 2023, leaving the heavy lifting to New York’s formidable defense.

Finally, the Jets might realize their potential, with Corley possibly playing a bigger role than most anticipated.