The San Francisco 49ers are in an intriguing spot at WR, with uncertainty surrounding the futures of Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel . The 49ers have expressed interest in extending Aiyuk, but financial constraints and other practical issues make it challenging.
In any case, San Francisco must get ready to reload. According to a recent article by Bleacher Report analyst Derrik Klassen, Western Kentucky prospect Malachi Corley is being considered as an option.
“Everyone admires a small, muscular receiver with an aggressive attitude, which is why everyone admires Malachi Corley. At a solid 5’11” and 215 pounds, he's more like a running back than a wide receiver,” Klassen stated on March 28. “He's not yet a refined, versatile route-runner, but he can certainly deliver impact with the ball in his possession.”
Being short, stocky, and having an aggressive attitude? That sounds very similar to Samuel. In fact, NFL.com’s draft profile for Corley directly compares him to Deebo.
Adding a player like that could pave the way for a natural transition if the 49ers want to part ways with Samuel. However, the concept of having an established veteran like Samuel and then bringing in an apprentice seems like an inefficient method to prepare for his future replacement.
Key Points About Malachi Corley
Having played college football at Western Kentucky, Corley isn't widely recognized nationally. However, fans and analysts who have observed the WR believe he has the potential to excel in the NFL.
As per Sports Reference, Corley has concluded back-to-back seasons with 11 TDs for the Hilltoppers. After a 2022 season with 1295 receiving yards and a 12.8 yards per catch average, he managed 984 receiving yards and 12.5 yards per catch in 2023.
In the aforementioned draft profile, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein analyzed Corley’s skillset.
“Corley is a large, physical wide receiver who has been tasked with carrying a heavy load for Western Kentucky, using his abilities after making a catch… He's an average route-runner with the potential for improvement, but there are concerns about his drop rate and contested-catch rate compared to the way he performs in open space,” Zierlein commented. “Like Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel when they were prospects, Corley has experienced a high percentage of his targets being built around him and he will need to demonstrate that he can evolve beyond simply being effective in quick passing game situations or as a gadget player.”
Both Aiyuk and Samuel made the leap, so Corley may indeed be a good fit for the 49ers.
49ers GM Talks About Aiyuk Extension
If Aiyuk is going to be moved this offseason, it won’t be part of San Francisco’s initial plans. According to a conversation with NFL media members on March 25, Lynch mentioned that they are working towards an extension.
“We’re actively negotiating with Brandon to figure something out,” Lynch conveyed, as per NFL.com. “We have a favorable track record of working with the individuals we intend to retain, and it requires effort from both sides. So, can we achieve that? Time will tell.”
Clearly, no team wants to lose a talented player like Aiyuk. However, expressing interest in an extension and actually following through are two different things.
