Malachi Corley (WR, Western Kentucky)

Draft profile from Pro Football Network:

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/malachi-corley-draft-scouting-2024/

Draft Profile and Measurements

• Height: 5’10 5/8″
• Weight: 215 pounds
• Length: 75 1/2″
• Wingspan: 30 7/8″
• Hand: 9″
• School: Western Kentucky
• Position: Wide Receiver
• Current Year: Redshirt Junior

Nicknames can come off as a bit disingenuous when they’re self-proclaimed. Look at Corley’s social media, and you’ll see him referred to as the "YAC King” in multiple spots. No one bats an eye — because he’s absolutely right.

Corley is the YAC — Yards After Catch — King of the 2024 NFL Draft, and virtually everyone agrees. Corley had one of the lowest average depth of targets in college football over the past two years for one reason: The Hilltoppers just wanted the ball in his hands.

Corley, a former two-star recruit, led the nation in total YAC and YAC per reception in 2022 (min. 80 targets), and in 2023, he racked up 101 catches for 1,295 yards and 11 touchdowns. Now, the 22-year-old is on his way to the 2024 NFL Draft, where he could be a dream pick for one lucky offensive coordinator.

Corley Scouting Report

Strengths

• Hyper-dense bowling ball at 215 pounds with the mass of a running back.
• Uniquely explosive and compact long-strider who can stretch seams when he has space.
• Jetpack-wearing juggernaut with elite attack explosiveness and angle-erasing burst.
• Has the hand strength and focus to corral contested throws over the middle of the field.
• Able to gather passes in stride while keeping speed and turning upfield for RAC yards.
• Flashes the ability to make adjustments for imprecise passes with body control.
• Has shown he can employ energetic, efficient footwork on quick slants and out routes.
• Shows glimpses of spatial IQ, flowing through zones and sitting in DB blind spots.
• Raging bull after the catch with vision and terse physicality turbocharged by athleticism.
• Has explosive one-cut agility in space and can swerve away from tacklers at max speed.
• Has hyper-elite contact balance, bouncing off tackles and carrying momentum with ease.
• Can completely absorb solo hits with his midsection and secure catches through hits.
• Effortlessly churns his legs through arm tackles and is very hard to redirect at contact.
• Has the versatility to be used in motion and schemed touches in countless ways.
• Incredibly tenacious blocker who squares up opponents and unleashes at contact.

Weaknesses

• Long speed, while solid, isn’t at the breakaway level in open field.
• With his stout frame and below-average length, lacks an elite catch radius.
• Lacking length can make him easier to corral and obstruct at the catch point for DBs.
• Doesn’t have the sheer size to box out DBs at the catch point and adjust on fade routes.
• Hand precision in contested situations can improve, and contact exacerbates issues.
• Route tree in college was relatively simplistic and has room to be expanded in the NFL.
• Was featured on lots of quick underneath concepts and can develop more variability.
• At times runs too far upright when pressing into stems, stalling redirections versus DBs.
• At times loses balance chopping feet at stems and is still gaining comfort with tempo.
• Schemed touches limited press-man experience, and length may affect translatability.
• Sometimes lets passes into his frame over the middle, which can be a source of drops.

Current Draft Projection and Summary

Corley grades out as a top-64 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft, who could field top-50 consideration from teams needing a weapon at the WR position. Round 1 may be a bit rich considering the projection required for Corley’s three-level profile, but in the right offense, he has game-breaking potential.

Corley is essentially a running back playing the WR position. That means exactly what you think — both good and bad. At around 5’10” and 215 pounds, Corley has an incredibly unique frame at WR, granting him hyper-elite contact balance and strength after the catch.

What’s more, Corley weaponizes his frame with bristling speed and explosiveness, relentless physicality, and vision while engaging his blocks. At Western Kentucky, he was utilized in many different ways — on screens, swings, sweep motions, drag routes, slants, and even out of the backfield as an RB.

The main drawback with Corley is this: He’s a weapon first and a wide receiver second. He still has a lot of room to expand his route tree and learn how to separate independently, particularly at the intermediate level. Although he has strong hands, his lack of length can be an issue in contested situations.

Nevertheless, in a space-dominated modern NFL, Corley has the athletic and mental tools to dominate defenders. Comparisons to Deebo Samuel are often made because of Corley’s physical profile, and while Samuel is more refined, those pure physical comparisons are warranted. Simply get him the ball and let him eat.

Early in his NFL career, Corley can be a solid starting slot WR with vast usage versatility, top-end RAC utility, and toughness as a blocker. There shouldn’t be a long runway for him to become a truly elite yard-creating weapon, and with more development as a separator, he can be an impact starter.

Day 3 ... I want this guy as our new slot WR.

 

 

Add Calvin Ridley in free agency and this guy in the 2nd round  and we will be dangerous!!!

Even though I know the selections will change multiple times between now and the draft, I still got a little excited when I saw Corley mocked to us in the most recent DraftTek mock. 

https://www.drafttek.com/2024-NFL-Mock-Draft/2024-NFL-Mock-Draft-Round-3.asp

40 minutes ago, time2rock said:

Even though I know the selections will change multiple times between now and the draft, I still got a little excited when I saw Corley mocked to us in the most recent DraftTek mock. 

https://www.drafttek.com/2024-NFL-Mock-Draft/2024-NFL-Mock-Draft-Round-3.asp

I think he is long gone by then… I’ve seen articles that saw he could be the next breakout rookie like Puka and have him compared to Debo 

On 2/16/2024 at 9:10 AM, time2rock said:

Malachi Corley (WR, Western Kentucky)

 

Current Draft Projection and Summary

Corley is essentially a running back playing the WR position. That means exactly what you think — both good and bad. At around 5’10” and 215 pounds, Corley has an incredibly unique frame at WR, granting him hyper-elite contact balance and strength after the catch.

What’s more, Corley weaponizes his frame with bristling speed and explosiveness, relentless physicality, and vision while engaging his blocks. At Western Kentucky, he was utilized in many different ways — on screens, swings, sweep motions, drag routes, slants, and even out of the backfield as an RB.

Yeah, I caught is highlights and he looks for contact, that could lead to him getting busted up in the NFL.

The Eagles should be excited about him considering all of those silly bubble screens that's called.  , 

5 hours ago, Cheesteakitis said:

I think he is long gone by then… I’ve seen articles that saw he could be the next breakout rookie like Puka and have him compared to Debo 

hes not Debo...

And frankly, I keep trying and I just cant get impressed by him.

Kempski has us taking him in the 3rd in his latest mock.  This is what he had to say about him:

Round 3: Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky (5'11, 215)

Corley is a really fun player who has been productive over his career at WKU:

Malachi Corley	Rec	Yards	YPC	TD
2020	6	65	10.8	0
2021	73	691	9.5	7
2022	101	1295	12.8	11
2023	79	984	12.5	11

He is a YAC machine who does not shy away from contact. Just ask this poor kid from Austin Peay at the 0:47 mark, the UTSA kid at the 4:00 mark, the two Rice defenders at the 10:17 mark, or the FAU kid at the 14:00 mark:

That is just an absurd number of broken tackles in that video above, and Corley could bring a physical element to the Eagles' offense out of the slot. Fearless, badass player.

I imagine some might object to Corley being available in Round 3. We'll see. The vast majority of Corley's receptions occurred near the line of scrimmage, and his ability to play outside in the pros is in question, so he could slide. But for the Eagles' purposes, he's the type of physical, swaggy player they sought to add in free agency this offseason.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/eagles-only-seven-round-2024-mock-draft-version-4-0-terrion-arnold-kiran-amegadjie-malachi-corley/

Jets