Malachi Corley has been likened to versatile San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel. What does Corley, the former Western Kentucky wide receiver, think about the prospect of joining Samuel and the rest of the 49ers' receiving corps?
It's a possibility. Corley is expected to be drafted in the second or third round this week and recently visited the team in Santa Clara. Could it be the 49ers calling his name?
"Put me out there with Deebo," Corley recently told Kay Adams on the "Up and Adams" show. "Deebo, left, Malachi, right, [Brandon] Aiyuk, [Christian] McCaffrey down the middle."
While 49ers fans hope to see Aiyuk remain with the team, negotiations for a contract extension are ongoing. On Monday, general manager John Lynch assured reporters that retaining Aiyuk remains a top priority.
Regarding the opportunity to play alongside Aiyuk, Corley expressed, "That's somebody I definitely want to play with."
YAC King @CorleyMalachi to the Niners?
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) April 23, 2024
According to Pro Football Focus, Corley amassed 683 total yards after the catch last season, averaging 8.6 yards after receptions. In 12 games, he tallied 79 receptions for 984 yards and 11 touchdowns, per Sports Reference.
Corley's best statistical season was in 2022 when he caught 101 passes for 1,295 yards with 11 touchdowns while adding 11 carries for 87 rushing yards. He caught 259 passes for 3,035 yards with 29 touchdowns through his four collegiate seasons with the Hilltoppers.
Visit our pre-draft tracker for a comprehensive overview of all reported formal and informal meetings between the 49ers and prospective NFL rookies.
The 2024 NFL Draft will take place in Detroit, Michigan, from Thursday through Saturday.
