The New York Jets must've felt they didn't have a choice.
It's rare that a third-round draft pick is cut loose after just a single season, but that's what the Jets did with a waiver decision on Tuesday as part of the NFL's cutdown day to 53-man rosters.
Malachi Corley has been waived, according to multiple reports from NFL insiders.
Insider Jordan Schultz wrote: "The former 3rd-round pick out of Western Kentucky is a talented player who needed a change of scenery and a better scheme fit."
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The writing had been on the wall for this. ESPN's Rich Cimini wrote a few days ago that, "I don't think there's a scenario where he makes" the 53-man roster.
A new coaching staff in New York is certainly not something that worked in Corley's favor. Aaron Glenn and company weren't a part of the process that landed Corley in the first place.
The Jets took him No. 65 overall out of Western Kentucky, right at the start of the 2024 third round.
He was supposed to be an explosive, speedy wideout who could make plays, including potentially in the return game.
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Instead, he had an early-season fumble gaffe as a rookie and never really recovered.
Corley ended up appearing in nine games and made just three catches for 16 yards while rushing twice for 26 yards.
The Jets had a couple young wideouts play their name into roster contention this summer, helping to make Corley expendable.
He'll likely get a chance from another team due to his traits and draft pedigree.
But this goes down as a swing and a miss by the Jets.
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