Malachi Corley is Perfect Fit For Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers can fill their hole at wide receiver in the upcoming draft.

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

PITTSBURGH -- Since the trade of Diontae Johnson, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in need of another playmaking wide receiver. With George Pickens as their bonafide top wideout and more pressing needs to address, it is most likely the Steelers will select their new offensive weapon on day two or three of the NFL Draft.

That shouldn't be a problem for the Steelers, who have one of the best track records for evaluating talent at that position. General manager Omar Khan has already displayed that in free agency, strengthening the receiving corps with veteran additions like Quez Watkins and Van Jefferson. He'll need to work some more magic in the draft to find a number two receiver.

Which all leads to wide receiver, Malachi Corley. He checks several boxes that make him a prime target for the Steelers' draft plans.

The first thing is the school. Pittsburgh often looks outside of the power conference universities for wide receivers. Players like Antonio Brown and Diontae Johnson were productive yet overlooked players that the Steelers keyed in on. Corley fits that bill well as a product of Western Kentucky and the Conference USA.

He can also fill a schematic void for the Steelers. Pittsburgh needs a new slot receiver, which Corley is very familiar with. He played a majority of his snaps this past season.

The 22 year-old was the go-to option at WKU the past two seasons, with the offense being executed almost solely around him. That parlayed into 180 receptions, over 2,000 receiving yards, and 22 touchdowns in that span.

Corley is an extremely gifted and well-rounded athlete. He isn't a burner in terms of his speed, but he is one of the strongest players in this draft class. His explosive lower body and frame contribute to all of his successes on the field: manipulating the secondary in route running, taking lateral handoffs and screens, and earning yards after contact.

And that's what makes him perfect for the Steelers. Earning the nickname, "YAC God", during his tenure in college, Corley has a relentless pursuit when the ball is in his hands. Combine that with his running back like figure, and he's quite a pain to bring down in space. It was on display fully during the 2022 season, when he registered 975 yards after contact (YAC). Whether it's in the backfield, the slot, or on the outside, he is a playmaker.

The knock on Corley is two-fold: he ran a limited route tree in school and he struggles against overly physical cornerbacks. The first concern is something the Steelers will overlook if they feel like Corley is their guy. Lots of extremely talented and athletic players successfully make the leap from a simple offense in college to a more intricate one in the NFL, and there's reason to doubt Corley's abilty to do the same.

The second concern is the more challenging one in evaluating Corley. For such an impressive athlete, he can have trouble separating from sticky cornerbacks and is inconsistent at best winning when it come to contested catches. Once he has the ball, he's a menace, but can the Steelers trust him to make the catch first?

With just a few weeks until the draft, the Steelers have some serious decisions to make. And while he may not be available by the time Pittsburgh chooses in the second or third round, Malachi Corley is a perfect fit for them.

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