The Carolina Panthers signed wide receivers Roc Taylor and Elijah Cooks on Tuesday.
Roc Taylor is six foot one and weighs 212 pounds. The 23-year-old from Oxford, Alabama, was drafted by the Columbus Aviators in the 2026 UFL Draft. In 2026, Taylor made two catches for 23 yards in two games. The Aviators released him on April 7, 2026. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Taylor on April 20, 2026. In 2026, he made two catches for 13 yards in one preseason game. The Redblacks released him on May 25, 2026.
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Taylor as an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2025. In 2025, Taylor made five catches for 77 yards in two preseason games. The Steelers released him on August 18, 2025.
Collegiately, Taylor spent four seasons at the University of Memphis (2021-24) with 163 catches for 2,375 yards, seven touchdowns, and five carries for 12 yards in 44 games for the Tigers.
In 2023, he was named Second Team All-AAC after finishing the season with a career-high 69 catches for 1,083 yards, four touchdowns, and two carries for two yards. In 2024, he was named First Team All-AAC after finishing the season with 66 catches for 950 yards, two touchdowns, and two carries for five yards in 13 games.
Elijah Cooks is six foot four and weighs 215 pounds. The 27-year-old from Santa Maria, California, signed with the Birmingham Stallions on May 5, 2026. He did not see any game action for the Stallions.
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Cooks as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. He also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and the New Orleans Saints. He made three catches for 38 yards in 11-career NFL games. He also made 12 catches for 193 yards, one touchdown, and one tackle (1 assist) in eight preseason games.
Collegiately, Cooks spent five seasons at Nevada (2019-21) with 115 catches for 1,478 yards, 18 touchdowns, one carry for 40 yards, one rushing touchdown, completing one pass for 50 yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in 29 games for the Wolf Pack.
Then, he transferred to San Jose State University in 2022, where he was named First Team All-Mountain West with 69 catches for 1,076 yards, 10 touchdowns, completing 1 of 2 passes (50%) for 19 yards, one interception, and three tackles (3 solos) in 12 games for the Spartans.
