The Pittsburgh Steelers have shown a ton of interest in several top receivers in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft throughout the pre-draft process, including Malachi Corley. He was at the Senior Bowl, where players talk to most every team in some form or fashion, but the interest really became apparent when the Steelers reportedly had him in for a pre-draft visit. Teams only get 30 of those, excluding local prospects, so when a name pops up on that list, it is important to pay attention. Last year, the Steelers drafted four players from their pre-draft visit list and acquired a fifth later in the season.
If that wasn’t a strong enough sign of interest, Steelers new WR coach Zach Azzanni was at Western Kentucky Pro Day, and he and Corley were captured in a photograph talking to each other by Steve Roberts, a photographer on site.
Also in attendance at WKU Pro Day was Steelers director of college scouting Dan Colbert. Sending the WR coach tells you exactly which prospect the Steelers are looking at, and then doubling down with Colbert’s presence shows just how interested they appear to be.
Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy later confirmed that Azzanni was there for the Steelers, listing the Steelers as one of nine teams that had a WRs coach in attendance for Corley’s Pro Day.
Diontae Johnson was traded during the first week of free agency, so the Steelers have a large need at wide receiver opposite George Pickens. They added WR Quez Watkins and WR Van Jefferson to the room, but they are role players and rotational pieces. The 2024 NFL Draft has one of the deepest receiver groups in recent memory, and Corley is the type of guy the Steelers could select on Day 2 if he is available.
In four seasons at WKU, he caught 259 passes for 3,035 yards and 29 touchdowns in Conference USA.
He wasn’t at the NFL Scouting Combine last month due to COVID, per a recent report from Dane Brugler on X, who also noted that Corley has been one of the most popular prospects when it comes to pre-draft visits.
Obviously with him not being at the Combine, Corley didn’t run the 40-yard dash or test in any other drills. Some of those numbers may surface later today or in the coming days, from his pro day. Back at the Senior Bowl, he measured at 5105, 215 pounds, with 30 7/8-inch arms. For his height, he has a thick frame and that shows in his play strength on tape.
Check out our Jonathan Heitritter’s comprehensive scouting report on him below.
