Who Should I Start? Donovan Peoples-Jones or Ja'Corey Brooks

Thursday, May 15, 1:06 PM

New Orleans Saints executive vice president/general manager Mickey Loomis announced earlier this week that the team signed free-agent wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones and safety Terrell Burgess to undisclosed one-year deals and waived safety Millard Bradford and running back Jordan Mims in corresponding moves. Both Peoples-Jones and Burgess took part in the team's rookie minicamp last weekend on a tryout basis. Peoples-Jones, 26, was a sixth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2020 out of Michigan. He was on the Detroit Lions' practice squad last year but last played in an NFL game in 2023, when he caught 13 of 25 targets for 155 yards and no touchdowns in 15 games (six starts) with the Browns and Lions. DPJ will face an uphill battle for a starting role in New Orleans as receiver depth behind Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks and Bub Means in 2025.

Saturday, August 9, 12:32 AM

Washington Commanders wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks led the team in receiving in their first preseason game against the Patriots, catching all five targets for 59 yards. The 2025 undrafted free agent stepped in to play the majority of the second half and made the most of his opportunity. Brooks, a former five-star recruit out of high school, played at Alabama before transferring to Louisville for a season. He has good size at 6'2", 190 pounds, and posted over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns in his final collegiate season. However, his poor athletic testing dragged him down in the draft process. With the Terry McLaurin contract situation and the state of the Commanders' receiver room, there is an opportunity for Brooks to make the roster as the sixth receiver. He'll need to continue to stack positive days at practice as well as produce when the lights come on for him to have a chance.