The Detroit Lions are enjoying a brief quiet period during the NFL offseason, but things won’t remain that way for long. This year’s training camp will begin for rookies on July 16 before veterans are forced to report three days later, and that’s without mentioning how it won’t be long before the Lions are facing the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on July 31.
The coming weeks will be quite telling when it comes to the Lions’ outlook in 2025. While several Detroit players are all but guaranteed 53-man roster spots, others aren’t as privileged, including a veteran wideout who couldn’t buy his job if he tried.
Lions WR Malik Taylor Can’t Buy a Roster Spot This Offseason
It wouldn’t be surprising if Malik Taylor’s time with the Lions ends before it even truly begins. The 29-year-old wide receiver signed a one-year contract with Detroit following a successful tryout in May, but even that won’t save him from being a potential roster casualty.
Taylor’s story as an undrafted WR out of Ferris State University is inspiring; however, it hasn’t exactly led to overwhelming NFL success. The Flint, MI native has only played 28 games (1 start) since the beginning of the 2020 campaign, resulting in only nine catches for 93 receiving yards and a touchdown. He’s only made three appearances in the last trio of seasons, which includes missing all of 2024 due to injury.
Now, to say that Taylor’s fight to make head coach Dan Campbell’s 53-man roster would be an understatement. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Isaac TeSlaa, Kalif Raymond, and Dominic Lovett are the clear-cut six-best wideouts on the Lions’ roster. On top of that, Taylor must compete with the likes of Ronnie Bell, Tom Kennedy, and Jackson Meeks just to get noticed.
Taylor’s lack of time in the Motor City also means the Lions don’t owe him any loyalty. If he can’t outperform any of the aforementioned names, he doesn’t belong on Detroit’s roster.
The Lions don’t have any room for underperforms if they’re going to chase the Lombardi Trophy next season. If Taylor can’t prove that he can contribute to achieving that goal, he might have to be pushed aside and forced to find a playing opportunity elsewhere.
