Who Should I Start? Malik Taylor or Bryce Oliver

Monday, May 12, 9:38 PM

The Detroit Lions announced on Monday that they signed free-agent tight end Luke Deal, wide receiver Malik Taylor and defensive lineman Raequan Williams while waiving tight end Caden Prieskorn in a corresponding move. Deal, Taylor and Williams impressed Detroit's coaching staff enough after trying out in the team's rookie minicamp over the weekend. Deal will provide depth for the Lions behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright if he makes the team after recording 17 catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns in 65 games (19 starts) over six seasons at Auburn. Taylor was on Injured Reserve all of last year with the New York Jets due to an undisclosed injury, but evidently he's healthy now. The 29-year-old entered the NFL in 2020 with the Green Bay Packers and has just nine catches on 13 targets for 93 yards and one touchdown in 28 games (one start) over three seasons.

Monday, August 26, 12:07 PM

Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Bryce Oliver hauled in three passes for 52 yards and two touchdowns in the last preseason win over New Orleans. It was a mini breakout for the undrafted pass-catcher out of Youngstown State, who was having a quiet game until quarterback Malik Willis started looking his way in the fourth quarter, which led to two scores, along with the game-winner with 1:25 remaining. Oliver was not expected to compete for an active roster spot, but this performance definitely gives general manager Ran Carthon something to think about. Even so, with Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, Treylon Burks, Tyler Boyd, Kyle Philips, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine having locked up roster spots at WR, it's tough to see a situation in which Oliver ends up on the active 53-man roster for the Titans. He is nowhere near any fantasy radar heading into the 2024-25 season.