Who Should I Start? Malik Taylor or Ja'Corey Brooks

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.

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.