Jets add to ‘O’ with WR Corley

The Jets had to wait a while to make their first and only selection on Day 2 of the draft.

But after selecting left tackle Olu Fashanu 11th overall Thursday night, the Jets continued to add to their offense by taking a playmaker who has been compared to Deebo Samuel and Anquan Bolden.

Gang Green traded the 72nd and the 157th overall pick with the Panthers to draft Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley with the No. 65 overall pick.

“I thought it was an unbelievable feeling,” Corley said. “It was almost surreal knowing my journey and where I came from and knowing I get to play with someone like Aaron Rodgers — somebody great that I’ve been watching since I was younger.

“Being around a group of guys that love ball and bring energy to that room every single day. I was really excited.”

Last season for the Hilltoppers, Corley caught 79 passes for 984 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2022, Corley registered 101 receptions for 1,295 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Corley is nicknamed the YAC (yards after catch) King for a reason. In 2023, he averaged 8.6 yards after contact per reception and led the nation with 330 yards on screen passes.

“His YAC speaks for itself,” Jets general manager Joe Douglas said. “His production speaks for itself. He has been highly productive the last two years.

“He was a centerpiece to that offense. He does a lot of different things. He’s a nice versatile chess piece.”

Corley played several positions at Campbellsville High School in Kentucky before switching to wide receiver. He is a solid and compact wide receiver at 5-11, 215 pounds. Corley also doesn’t shy away from contact and loves to break tackles and punish defenders.

At Western Kentucky, Corley was mainly used as a slot receiver. The Hilltoppers used him in short passes and screens, where he often broke away from defenders.

“He’s an angry runner,” Robert Saleh said. “We love his style of play.”