Malachi Corley Just Went From “YAC King” to Cut King
Is anybody really shocked Malachi Corley got cut? That’s one third-round draft pick down, and approximately zero touchdowns to show for it. The New York Jets have officially thrown in the white towel with Corley, who was released on final cut day. Honestly, it is about as surprising as finding out the Jets made another questionable draft decision.
The Rise and Fall Of the Self-Proclaimed “YAC King”
Remember when Corley strutted into town calling himself the “YAC King?” For those keeping track, YAC stands for “yards after catch,” and Corley wasn’t exactly humble about his abilities. The dude led all of college football with 2,070 yards after catch from 2021-2023 at Western Kentucky. Not too shabby, right?
The Jets were so smitten with this guy that they actually traded up – yes, traded UP – to snag him with the 65th overall pick in the 2024 draft. Former General Manager Joe Douglas was practically doing backflips over this kid, giving away a fifth-round and third-round pick to move up seven spots.
A Rookie Season That Started Rough and Got Rougher
If you thought Corley’s college stats would translate seamlessly to the pros, you clearly haven’t been watching the Jets long enough. He only had three catches for 16 yards in nine games played. Oh, by the way, he was a healthy scratch in five games as well. The kid couldn’t crack the lineup because he didn’t play special teams, which was telling.
The Halloween Horror Show That Defined a Career
It’s Thursday Night Football against the Houston Texans. Corley gets his first NFL carry, and he is running toward the end zone for what should be an easy 18-yard touchdown. The kid’s got green grass in front of him, defenders trailing behind, and glory just a few steps away.
Then Corley releases the ball, not after crossing the goal line, mind you, but a split second BEFORE. The ball bounces out of bounds, the Jets lose possession, and six points evaporate into thin air. It was a premature celebration at its absolute worst, and it became the defining moment of his New York tenure.
Training Camp Troubles and the Writing On the Wall
Fast forward to this year’s training camp, and Corley found himself buried deep on the depth chart. Despite there being actual opportunities in the Jets’ receiving corps, he got leapfrogged by rookie free agents – UNDRAFTED rookie free agents. That’s like getting passed over for a promotion by the intern who just started last week. During the preseason, Corley managed just 53 offensive snaps and caught exactly one pass for eight yards. The writing was on the wall for sure.
The Broader Jets Reality
Look, we could pile on Corley all day, but let’s be honest. This is as much about the Jets’ organizational dysfunction as it is about one player’s struggles. This is a franchise that has made questionable draft decisions for decades, and Corley is just the latest casualty. The fact that Aaron Rodgers endorsed this pick makes it even more painful.
What’s Next For the Former “YAC King?”
Corley is now 23 years old with minimal NFL experience and a resume that includes one viral blooper. That’s not exactly the foundation for a long, successful career, but stranger things have happened in this league. He’ll likely get a chance somewhere else. Maybe on a practice squad or with a team desperate for receiving depth. But the clock is ticking, and second chances in the NFL don’t last forever.
