While it’s not yet known whether Jason Bean or Chandler Rogers will become the Kings’ starting quarterback, one thing is certain: they will inherit a talented group of receivers.
The Spring League Veterans
Former Memphis Showboats’ wide receivers Jonathan Adams and Kwamie Lassiter lead the group of talented veterans. Through the early part of last season, Adams was the league leader in receptions and yards. He finished the season in 6th place overall with 30 catches for 407 yards with two touchdowns. Lassiter followed with 24 catches for 271 yards and one touchdown.
Former Arlington Renegades‘ wide receivers JaVonta Payton and Isaiah Winstead round out the group of returning league players. Acquired by Arlington in March of 2023 in a trade from the Orlando Guardians, Payton was a member of the Renegades XFL Championship team.
His best season for Arlington was in 202,4 when he recorded 23 receptions for 379 yards with five touchdowns. Utilized in the Renegades’ ground attack, Payton added five carries for 34 yards with one touchdown.
Winstead, a 6’3” 216 lb. Richmond, VA native played in all 10 games last year, recording 31 catches for 307 yards. The previous year, he recorded 18 catches for 306 yards with two scores.
Both Payton and Winstead had brief stints on NFL practice squads as undrafted free agents. Payton tried out with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 before joining the spring league. In 2023, he spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles on their practice squad.
New To The UFL
Tarik Black
27-year-old Tarik Black played for the University of Michigan Wolverines, where he competed for targets against Houston Texans’ star, Nico Collins. Transferring to the University of Texas-Austin for his final year of eligibility, Black was described by Texas Coach Tom Herman as a hard-working, selfless player who just wants to contribute.
After going undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft, Black signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Although he remained on the Colts’ practice squad that season, Black was picked up by the New York Jets the following year upon his release. He was activated for the Jets’ final game against the Buffalo Bills, where he recorded his first NFL catch. Black was signed to a Reserve/ Future contract for the next season but subsequently released.
Over the next few seasons, Black spent time on several other NFL practice squads, including the Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and, most recently, the Miami Dolphins.
Drafted by the Kings on Day 2, this is his first venture in spring football.
Dez Fitzpatrick
Former NFL wide receiver and UFL-drafted newcomer Dez Fitzpatrick was selected in the 4th round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans. The 6’2” 208 lb. Louisville standout recorded 2,589 receiving yards with 21 touchdowns during his collegiate career. He earned a reputation as a receiver with strong route-running ability and does well in contested catch scenarios.
After spending the majority of his time on the Titans’ practice squad, Fitzpatrick had brief stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Los Angeles Chargers. During his NFL career, he had 5 receptions for 49 yards with one touchdown.
Lynn Bowden, Jr.
Former University of Kentucky Wildcat Lynn Bowden, Jr., may be one of the more intriguing prospects for the Kings. After playing both wide receiver and quarterback in college, a versatile Bowden was drafted as a running back by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
However, during the preseason, Bowden was traded to the Miami Dolphins. Given his first NFL opportunity in week 13, he caught four passes for 41 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals. That was enough for Bowden to earn his first start the following week against the Kansas City Chiefs, where he recorded seven receptions for 82 yards. Unfortunately, the following August, Bowden’s promising career was derailed by a serious hamstring injury. He was placed on IR and eventually waived by the Dolphins on August 30, 2022.
Brief stints with the New England Patriots and the New Orleans Saints followed. In December of 2025, Bowden signed with the D.C. Defenders; however, he was released before the beginning of the season. One week later, he signed with the Canadian B.C. Lions.
Drafted by the Kings on Day 2, Bowden joins a crowded receivers room, but if he can regain some of the versatility and promise he showed in Miami, he could become a breakout star for Louisville.
Kaden Prather
A talented wide receiver out of Maryland, Kaden Prather, was drafted by the Bills in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Sidelined by an ongoing hamstring injury in August of last year, Prather was placed on injured reserve and missed the 2025 season. The 6’3″, 209 lb. 23-year-old was considered a versatile dual-threat as a Terrapin.
Catching 42 passes for 666 yards with five touchdowns in 2023, Prather added another 36 yards on the ground. Drafted by Louisville on January 14, 2026, Prather has an opportunity to relaunch his professional career with the Kings.
Carter Bell
Carter Bell is the newest member of the team. During an impressive collegiate career, the 5’11” 180 lb. South Dakota Coyote recorded 193 catches for 2,970 yards with 20 touchdowns. A former team captain and versatile athlete, Bell was also utilized as a punt returner and in the ground game, notching 49 returns for 495 yards and 11 carries for 70 yards with one touchdown. Following a strong showing at the Atlanta UFL Showcase, where he came in first for the receivers group in the 3-cone drill with a time of 7.10, Bell was signed to the Kings’ roster earlier this week.
It remains to be seen which of these talented receivers will become the team’s number one go-to playmaker, but it’s going to be fun watching the action with such a stacked receiving room.
1 Comment
by Frank Dux
Mostly pedestrian numbers at best in that group.