Philadelphia Eagles Named Best Fit For Mid-Major WR on Day 2 of NFL Draft

The Philadelphia Eagles could look to add to their receiving core in the upcoming NFL Draft. Western Kentucky's Malachi Corley has been named a potential 'fit' for the Eagles if they do end up addressing that position.

Jul 28, 2021; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman (L) and head coach Nick Sirianni / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Based on recent mock drafts, the Philadelphia Eagles' first-round pick at No. 22 overall in the NFL Draft suggests they will target either an offensive tackle or cornerback. But what about Day 2 of the draft, where the Eagles will have two picks in the second round at No. 50 and 53? 

According to Pro Football Focus, Western Kentucky receiver Malachi Corley could be an Eagles' potential Day 2 target. 

Dec 18, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers wide receiver Malachi Corley (11) / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

“The Eagles’ production after the catch substantially dropped in 2023. Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley is dynamic with the ball in his hands and proved it by forcing 73 missed tackles over the past three seasons,” PFF writes. “Corley would provide a spark to Philadelphia’s RPO and screen games while he further develops his route running.”

With A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith already on the roster, you may wonder why the Eagles would draft a receiver with one of their second-round picks instead of filling other positions that may be considered more of a “need.”

Putting aside the type of playmaker that the Eagles could get in Corley, as our own Ed Kracz recently detailed, the Eagles could be heading for salary cap problems in the coming seasons with the contracts of key players like Brown, Smith, Jalen Hurts, and Lane Johnson all set to have increased cap hits. 

Specifically, Brown’s cap hit is set to increase dramatically over the next two seasons from $12 million. However, that manageable cap number will rise to $26 million in 2025 and $41 million the year after. Combine that with the contracts given to Hurts and Johnson already, along with Smith’s imminent extension, it is easy to see why Brown’s future could be elsewhere. 

With that in mind, it makes sense for the Eagles to, at the very least, take a swing at a receiver sooner rather than later in the draft, especially considering that the receiver class this season is elite at the top.

As for Corley, the former Orange City, Florida, native enjoyed a very productive career at Western Kentucky. Across four years, Corley totaled 3,035 yards and 29 touchdowns on 259 receptions. 

After a true freshman season in 2020, during which he had just 65 yards on six receptions, he totaled 2,970 yards across the three following seasons. One of those, 2022, saw Corley record a career-high 1,295 yards and 11 touchdowns on 101 receptions while playing in 14 games. While he didn’t manage to match that yardage, he did record 11 touchdowns again in 2023, this time on 79 receptions for 984 yards. 

At 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, Corley is a different type of receiver than the 6-foot-1 Brown and even the 6-foot Smith. As his NFL.com player profile scouting report describes, Corley’s playstyle is more similar to San Francisco 49ers’ star Deebo Samuel.

“Corley is a big, physical wideout who has been asked to carry a heavy workload for Western Kentucky, using his talent after the catch. Corley’s highlight reel will be full of broken tackles and general carnage left in his wake, …” Lance Zierlein writes. “Like Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel when they were prospects, Corley has had a heavy percentage of his targets schemed around him, and he will need to prove he can become more than just a quick-game bully or gadget guy.”

If Corley can develop into the type of player that Samuel or Aiyuk did, he’d undoubtedly make a strong Day 2 pick.