Can The Jets New Offense Fix This Once Praised Rookie?

After a lackluster final season in the Aaron Rodgers experiment, the New York Jets are ready to wipe the slate clean. No longer obligated to appease the ego of an aging veteran, the new regime of head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey are ready for change. The duo will have their hands full, focusing on retooling the defense and introducing a new offense for the Jets. The Jets brought in renowned Detroit Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand to lead their offense. The first-time offensive coordinator is ready to bring some of the flares he showcased in Detroit to New Jersey. In order to achieve this, the Jets will need this once-praised rookie to step up at wide receiver.  Should he break out, the Jets new offense has a chance to improve.

Can The Jets New Offense Fix This Once Praised Rookie?

In 2024, the New York Jets hype was only on paper. After only winning against the Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Miami Dolphins, last year was a disaster. As much of a talented roster on paper, the sum of their parts only managed five wins. Including only two teams with a winning record. Unfortunately, this led to changes at head coach, general manager, and now quarterback.

Looking for a fresh start, New York brought in the duo of Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey to lead the charge for change. Under their guidance, the Jets will look to improve through the draft and improve their defense. But, to help the offense, new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand will need help. If successful, this could lead to a big opportunity for last year’s third-round pick.

Will Malachi Corley bounce back with the New York Jets?

Last spring, I wrote about how the New York Jets found a steal in the third round. By drafting the NCAA leader in yards after catch (YAC), the Jets found a gem in Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley. Corley played with two future NFL quarterbacks in college in Austin Reed and Bailey Zappe. Between 2022 and 2023, the future Jets rookie caught 180 passes between 26 games for 2279 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. At 5’11” and 200lbs, Corley has a similar size profile to that of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Corley flashed abilities in the running game as well. Even Carolina Panthers legend Steve Smith Sr. called Corley the “YAC King” before the draft.

Alas, despite his impressive resume on paper, Corley’s rookie year was nothing short of a disaster. Due to the veteran presence in the wide receiver room along with the Davante Adams trade, Corley’s time on the field was limited. The brain trust of Nathaniel Hackett and Todd Downing failed to play to Corley’s strengths. He finished 2024 with 16 receiving yards on three catches through nine games. Despite learning a new offense in New York, Corley was unable to leave much of an impact. While a lackluster first season, the Jets new offense can be very beneficial to him.

Rejuvenated passing game

When Aaron Glenn came to New York, he didn’t just want to fix the Jets defense. Knowing the toll it will take to help win, the Jets needed a new offense to play to the players strengths. Instead of appeasing Aaron Rodgers with the second-most pass attempts in the league, New York will heavily utilize the running game next year. Aaron Rodgers lack of mobility was a net negative for the unit as a whole. This led to Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis lacking holes in the run game. In the new offense, Tanner Engstrand will utilize a similar running game to what the Detroit Lions utilized. Using the running back room like Jahymer Gibbs and David Montgomery on the Lions, the Jets have a chance to turn it around.

But, this can also benefit Malachi Corley as well. Due to a similar size profile and breakaway speed, it would be wise to use Corley more on Jet sweeps. Involving Corley more on offense will help create more open space in the flat. Corley’s speed will keep safeties on their toes. With him drawing more attention from the secondaries, the Jets new offense should allow Garrett Wilson more chances to capitalize in short routes.

Using Corley in more creative ways can hopefully allow him to break out similar to Amon-Ra St. Brown. While in Detroit, the Lions turned St. Brown from an explosive slot receiver into a premier outside receiver. With Davante Adams and Allen Lazard joining Rodgers out the door, the Jets will need reinforcement at wide receiver. If Corley can find his place in this new Jets offense, he should be on the verge of a big second season.