Heading into the final preseason game against the Patriots, and the initial 53-man roster date quickly approaching, the Browns began their process to reduce their roster as they waived Cedric Tillman.
Then, following the 37-17 win over the Patriots, the Browns had more decisions to make in the wide receiver room. They waived Ben Patterson, Luke Floriea, Gage Larvadain and Kole Wilson as they worked to find their final group of receivers.
“Cutdown day is difficult for all of us,” Monken said. “Ultimately for the players in terms of not making our 53, possibly on our practice squad, but for the coaches as well because your players have given you everything you could ask for over the last six months. So definitely a difficult day.”
For the Browns’ front office and Monken, the first five receivers were solidified. Their rookie receivers in Boston and Concepcion demonstrated throughout training camp and the preseason their understanding of their alignments, assignments and technique, as well as how they could make contested catches. They anchored the room with two veterans in Jeudy and Wallace, with Jeudy as a true route-runner and Wallace as a versatile receiver. They have depth in Bond, who also brings versatility and speed to the room.
But as they evaluated their options for a sixth receiver, the final spot came down to adding value on special teams.
Over the course of training camp and the preseason, Corley repeatedly demonstrated his ability to be a returner. In the second preseason game against the Bills, Corley recorded a 31-yard kickoff return. Then in the third preseason game, Corley returned three kickoffs for 77 yards – including a 29-yard return – and made a tackle in kickoff coverage.
Special teams coordinator Byron Storer saw how Corley worked diligently to improve his game each day in practice and was receptive to any coaching he received while working on special teams. Storer first began working with the receivers in the spring to evaluate who had return ability – whether punt return or kick return. They also assessed who could cover kicks. As the offseason program went on, Storer said they found two players in Corley and Wallace who excel in coverage and returning.
Corley’s positive attitude and work ethic earned him opportunities in games to showcase his ability to contribute – and led to results that Storer could bring to Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry and Monken about what Corley could bring to the roster, particularly on special teams.
“As a kick returner, Malachi is fearless. He’s tough. And in the new kickoff rules, you have to have yard after contact ability. So, the way that he hits, he’s very coachable and he’s able to gain yards after contact,” Storer said. “He brings energy, effort, hard work, just the mentality. He actually really embodies the culture we’re trying to create here on special teams. But in terms of his play on the field, he can cover kicks and he can kick return at a high level. So that’s the value he brings to us on special teams.”
For Corley, contributing on special teams carries as much importance as contributing to the offense.
“My goal is to be an all-pro special teamer. I feel like I’m that person that you need a job to get done, you send me for it,” Corley said. “It’s important for me to contribute on special teams and have that dawg role just because I feel like, your greatest players, there’s no job too little for them. I feel like the more that I’m able to maximize in small things, more greater opportunities will be given to me, and ultimately, I look at it like somebody’s gotta do it.”