Jets' Aaron Rodgers already making connection with rookie receiver Malachi Corley
Rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley has been invited to stay in Aaron Rodgers’ guest house. Credit: AP/Adam Hunger
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers already has made a connection with rookie receiver Malachi Corley.
After the Jets drafted Corley in the third round last week, he and Rodgers spoke on the phone. Corley has been texting Rodgers often since then, just picking his brain on everything. Corley said Rodgers invited him to stay in his guest house, and he plans to take him up on the offer.
“I’m just like a little kid,” Corley said after the first day of the Jets’ rookie minicamp. “He’s adult, he’s the MVP, Hall of Famer — all those type of things. I’m just like a little kid talking to him all the time, texting him, trying to see what he’s done to stay consistent in the league, the things that he’s done to work on his mental health, how he’s kept his body alive so long.
“I’ve had conversations with him. He said I can stay in his guest house if I want to. Me and him are close. That’s going to be my dog while I’m here.”
Corley said he’ll make sure to pay Rodgers something to stay with him.
“I’ll throw him a little bit,” Corley said. “I’m a young guy, just trying to stay with him. You know, bother him, just be a little fly on the wall.”
The Jets are excited about adding Corley and his physical and aggressive playing style to their receiver room and offense. Corley seeks out contact and runs through players for extra yards. He led the nation in yards after the catch his last two years at Western Kentucky with 1,658.
“Every time I get the ball in my hands,” Corley said, “I’m just ready to punish somebody.”
Bruising running back Braelon Allen, whom the Jets took in the fourth round, has a similar mentality.
At 6-1, 235 pounds, Allen was hard to bring down during his Wisconsin career. His 2,182 rushing yards after contact since 2021 led all Power-5 backs. The Jets could use Allen to give Breece Hall a rest and as a kickoff returner.
“It’s just been the way I play my whole life,” Allen said. “It was kind of my advantage as a young kid, being a little bit bigger than everybody else. I had a wrestling background. Ever since I was a young kid, my skill of athletics has been being a little more physical than everybody else.”
In Allen and Rodgers, the Jets could have the distinction of having the youngest and oldest players in the NFL this season.
Allen, 20, is the first NFL player to be born in 2004. Rodgers, 40, was drafted one year later.
Despite growing up about an hour from Green Bay, Allen wasn’t a Packers fan. He admired Rodgers, though, and watched him all the time, and he still can’t believe they’re teammates now.
“It’s crazy,” Allen said. “Just seeing him every week growing up in Wisconsin, to be on the same field as him eventually will be a surreal feeling.
“I’ve heard some stories. You better do your job or he’s going to let you know. My biggest thing will be to do my job to the best of my ability, not disappoint him or anybody on the team or the staff. That’s my focus.”
Rodgers a full go
Rodgers, who is returning from a torn Achilles tendon, has been participating in the early phases of offseason workouts with no restrictions. Later this month, the Jets will start Phase 3, which consists of organized team practices with 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. Robert Saleh expects Rodgers to be a full participant.
“We’re not anticipating any restrictions from what we can and can’t do with him,” Saleh said.
Fashanu slowed
First-round pick Olu Fashanu suffered a quadriceps strain while running the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He did some conditioning work on the side on Friday, and the Jets will ease Fashanu into things.
The expectation is that Fashanu will get time at both tackle positions during the OTAs with veterans Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses likely on a program that limits them.
Travis’ status
Rookie quarterback Jordan Travis is still rehabbing from a broken leg, but Saleh said, “The anticipation is he’ll be ready by training camp.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
