Over the following few months, we’ll be breaking down all undrafted free brokers signed by the Jets. We proceed immediately with a have a look at extensive receiver Malik McClain.
The 23-year outdated McClain is listed at 6’4” and 195 kilos and was undrafted out of Arizona State. He caught a career-high 31 passes final yr after additionally having hung out at Florida State and Penn State.
McClain transferred to the celebrated IMG Academy for the ultimate season of his highschool profession earlier than heading to Florida State as a four-star recruit.
He had a promising freshman season that noticed him begin 9 video games and register 16 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns to earn the FSU Newcomer of the 12 months award.
Nonetheless, in 2022, his function didn’t develop as anticipated and he determined to enter the switch portal after barely bettering on the earlier yr’s numbers with 17 receptions, 206 yards and three scores.
He ended up at Penn State however once more didn’t make as a lot impression as he hoped, ending the yr with six catches for 71 yards and a rating, so he as soon as once more entered the switch portal.
McClain wasn’t getting any alternatives with Arizona State both, and had a number of harm points, so he opted to redshirt 4 video games into the yr, after having didn’t file a catch.
Nonetheless, he acquired a possibility within the postseason when Jordyn Tyson acquired damage and he was allowed to be activated with out affecting his redshirt standing. He had a 43-yard catch within the Large XII title sport and a 42-yard landing catch on a gadget play within the group’s bowl sport, though these had been his solely two catches of the season, on 9 targets.
Returning for his redshirt senior yr in 2025, McClain lastly acquired some first rate alternatives and had a breakout sport with seven catches for 159 yards in an October loss to Houston. He ended the season with 31 catches for 441 yards and a landing.
McClain was not anticipated to be drafted and the Jets signed him to an undrafted free agent contract that included low ensures, though it was the second-biggest assure that any of this yr’s undrafted rookies acquired from the group.
Let’s transfer onto some extra in-depth evaluation of what McClain brings to the desk, primarily based on in-depth analysis and movie research.
McClain is tall with a giant catch radius, however his listed weight of 195 is a priority as a result of he would wish so as to add to that. Encouragingly, he was as much as 205 at his professional day.
His numbers at his professional day had been glorious throughout the board, together with a 4.47 within the 40-yard sprint, 40-inch vertical and 136-inch broad soar. His agility numbers had been additionally glorious and he posted 17 bench press reps.
McClain has primarily performed as an outdoor receiver on the faculty degree, usually lining up within the slot between 10 and 15 p.c of the time.
He carried the ball as soon as in faculty, for a six-yard achieve.
McClain was focused so much down the sector throughout his profession, with blended outcomes. He did have some massive performs however his total success charge on downfield throws was fairly low.
He’s clearly somebody who could be a soar ball menace down the sector along with his dimension and athleticism.
McClain’s catch charge throughout his faculty profession was simply 46 p.c, though that is dragged downwards by having a excessive proportion of deeper throws.
He has the flexibility to go up and get it on soar balls and fade routes, and shows good focus.
He solely had 5 dropped passes in his first 4 seasons however had six final yr.
McClain nonetheless must show his versatility as a route runner and clear up among the fundamentals as he might be sluggish popping out of his breaks. Nonetheless, he reveals flashes of a basis in a few of his movie.
Regardless of having the scale that ought to make him an excellent crimson zone menace, McClain hasn’t produced as a lot as you’d wish to see on this space with simply three landing catches prior to now three years.
He fared a bit of higher in his two seasons at FSU with 5 touchdowns on his 33 receptions for them.
McClain doesn’t break plenty of tackles, however he has the flexibility to show it upfield and the scale to fall ahead for a number of additional yards or attain for the pylon or line-to-gain.
One factor McClain appears to have developed is an efficient stiff-arm within the open area.
He didn’t have a fumble throughout his faculty profession.
McClain is a bodily blocker who reveals good effort at occasions and makes good use of his dimension.
His consistency can let him down at occasions, although. He had two holding penalties and an unlawful block within the again penalty in 2025, with one of many holding penalties negating a 75-yard landing go.
As famous, McClain reveals physicality as a blocker, however maybe must bulk as much as be simpler when working routes, carrying the ball or competing on the catch-point.
His catch charge on contested catches throughout his faculty profession was a disappointing 35 p.c.
McClain made some good contributions on particular groups throughout his profession, as he rushed kicks and punts and was additionally employed as a blocker on the return unit.
He additionally lined kicks and punts with loads of expertise as a gunner. He had three particular groups tackles in his profession but in addition had a number of missed tackles and three penalties.
Instincts and Intelligence
Taking part in on three totally different faculty groups ought to put together McClain effectively for the problem of mastering a pro-style system. He labored onerous at his movie research in faculty.
He had one pre-snap penalty in 2025.
McClain has clearly proven willpower and perseverance to get alternatives along with his fixed transferring throughout faculty, and he acknowledged that he would have to be somebody who led by instance in his remaining season at Arizona State.
On-field self-discipline hasn’t been a priority, as he had simply 4 offensive penalties in his first 4 seasons, though he had 5 final yr, together with three in a single sport.
McClain was banged up in 2024, lacking one sport with an undisclosed harm earlier than opting to redshirt. He additionally took a while off within the 2025 preseason on account of minor harm issues. Nonetheless, he’s prevented something severe in his profession thus far.
As famous, McClain will primarily play on the surface, the place he’ll compete with the likes of Tim Patrick to convey a taller presence to the line-up. He reportedly already confirmed some good early chemistry with Cade Klubik, which bodes effectively for preseason.
Throughout his faculty profession, McClain was a teammate of present Jets Azareye’h Thomas at Florida State and Olu Fashanu at Penn State. He additionally performed a season with Kiko Mauigoa at IMG Academy.
McClain reportedly made an early impression in the course of the offseason program, however for somebody in his place, the objective is more likely to be to make sufficient of an impression in preseason to compel the group to maintain him round and possibly give him a shot later within the yr.
The latest harm to Quentin Skinner and launch of Da’Quan Felton removes two of the opposite tall targets competing with McClain for a task from the combination, however the Tim Patrick signing places one other street block in his means.
Until there’s an harm, or the group falls out of competition early, McClain might be working in the direction of with the ability to compete for a task subsequent season, except he could make an actual impression in preseason. He has some areas that require refinement although, in order that’s in all probability unlikely.
