The Detroit Lions have made notable updates to their roster following the recent rookie minicamp. As part of their adjustments, the team has signed three players from the minicamp tryouts: tight end Luke Deal from Auburn, wide receiver Malik Taylor from Ferris State, and defensive lineman Raequan Williams from Michigan State. In contrast, tight end Caden Prieskorn has been waived after being brought onto the team as an undrafted free agent shortly after last month’s draft.
Raequan Williams originally went undrafted in 2020, signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he spent two seasons. He later had brief stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Carolina Panthers, although he did not appear in any games for the latter two teams. During his time at Michigan State, Williams achieved notable stats, including 160 tackles, with 30 for loss, and 11½ sacks.
Malik Taylor made a significant impact at Ferris State, where he racked up 2,091 receiving yards. He began his professional career signing as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019 and has since played for the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets. Meanwhile, Luke Deal, having spent six seasons at Auburn, is recognized more for his blocking abilities than for pass-catching.
The Lions’ roster currently stands at 91 players, but they will not need to make immediate cuts to stay under the 90-man limit due to an exemption for sixth-round pick Ahmed Hassanein through the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. Hassanein, who was born in the U.S. but moved to Egypt at a young age, returned to California as a teenager and performed well at Boise State, where he recorded 24 sacks.
Additionally, Donovan Peoples-Jones has signed with the New Orleans Saints after participating in their rookie minicamp. A native of Detroit, he previously played for the Lions after being acquired from the Cleveland Browns, contributing with five catches for 58 yards across eight games last season. He had a promising college career at Michigan, finishing with 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns.
This series of roster moves reflects the Lions’ strategic approach to building their team, highlighting the potential contributions from young talent. As offseason workouts begin, these new additions could play a pivotal role in the team’s preparations for the upcoming season.