Who Should I Start? Malik Taylor or Kyle Philips

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.

Tuesday, February 18, 8:54 PM

The Las Vegas Raiders signed free-agent wide receiver Kyle Philips to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday. Philips, a former fifth-round selection by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 out of UCLA will head to the AFC West after spending all of the 2024 campaign on the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2022 and 2023, he caught only 23 of 35 targets for 259 yards and no touchdowns in 13 games played (no starts). The 25-year-old pass-catcher also saw time on special teams as a kickoff and punt returner, which will probably be his best path to a roster spot with the Raiders. Philips will be reuniting with his old head coach at UCLA in Chip Kelly, who is now the Raiders' offensive coordinator under new head coach Pete Carroll. Philips's familiarity with Kelly won't guarantee him a roster spot out of training camp, though.