The final part of my analysis of former XFL players in the NFL in 2021, part four, looks at players on NFL playoff teams, as well as players who were on practice squads or rosters during the 2021 regular season but finished the season as free agents. Cap information unless otherwise noted courtesy of overthecap.com.
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 8: at Audi Field on March 8, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Shawn Hubbard/XFL via Getty Images)
TE Tyree Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles (D.C. Defenders)
In 2021: Jackson made tremendous strides in the spring and summer as he transitioned from quarterback to tight end. He was on track to make the opening day roster until a back injury in mid-August during a joint practice with New England sent him to injured reserve. He returned for week nine and played in all nine remaining games for the Eagles. Jackson’s season stat line: three catches for 22 yards and a touchdown, all coming in week 18 against Dallas with Philly sitting many of their starters. Unfortunately, Jackson also suffered a torn ACL on special teams in that game, putting his 2022 regular season availability into question.
What PFF tells us: The breakdown that led to Jackson’s 54.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus is interesting: He registered a 46.4 for his receiving work, and a 66.1 for his run blocking. The expectation was that Jackson’s athleticism would lead to mismatches in the pass game, while the physicality involved in run blocking would cause that aspect of Jackson’s development to lag behind. That was apparently not the case. The Eagles did attempt to exploit those mismatches by lining Jackson up all over the formation. Of his 171 offensive snaps, just 61% came in the traditional inline TE spot. He was positioned in the slot on 36 snaps, out wide 20 snaps, in the backfield seven snaps and on the offensive line four snaps. Jackson also played 106 special teams snaps across all five units, the most coming on FG/XP block (46) and on kick return (25).
2022 outlook: Jackson is under contract for 2022 at a base salary of $825,000. He’ll be an exclusive rights free agent after that season. His injury blurs his prospects for the fall – he only just recently underwent surgery. Jackson could see a repeat of 2021, starting the season on I.R. to be activated when healthy.
Hunter Niswander, Dallas Cowboys Punter.
P Hunter Niswander, Dallas Cowboys (D.C. Defenders)
In 2021:Niswander’s 2020 performance stepping in for the injured Chris Jones not only earned him a 2021 training camp look, but jettisoned Jones from the roster. The Cowboys brought in Bryan Anger as a free agent to compete with Niswander this past off-season. With kicker Greg Zuerlein hobbled due to injury, Niswander pulled double-duty in camp. He handled all of the kicking and punting duties during the Hall of Fame game, with mixed results at best. Niswander played one more preseason game before an injury during practice prematurely ended his 2021 campaign. He spent the season on Dallas’s I.R.
2022 outlook: Anger is a free agent after playing under a one-year deal, leaving Niswander as the only punter under contract in Dallas for 2022. Anger was fourth in the NFL in gross punting average and first in net average. Dallas may want to re-sign him, but it may also depend on how much he’ll cost: The Cowboys are 30th in cap space in 2022, so they may not have room to afford Anger and may prefer to stick with the cheaper option in Niswander, or take a chance on a rookie.
K Matt McCrane, Free Agent (New York Guardians)
In 2021: After not participating in an NFL training camp in 2021, McCrane was brought aboard the practice squad of the Arizona Cardinals for five days in September. He yo-yoed on and off the Eagles’ practice squad late in the season before being released for the final time on January 10, the day after the regular season ended.
2022 outlook: Specialists continued to be in high demand in 2021 due to a combination of larger practice squads and the ongoing COVID-19 protocols set forth by the NFL. McCrane was one of the XFL’s best kickers in 2020, but so far that hasn’t translated to a lot of NFL success. The USFL’s season runs into NFL training camps, but the position least affected by that could be specialists. McCrane could show out in the USFL and increase his demand during the NFL’s in-season tryout circuit. That could be the best chance he has of kicking in the 2022 regular season.
WR De’Quan Hampton, Free Agent (L.A. Wildcats)
In 2021: An appearance at the HUB Football Camp in April 2021 led to Hampton getting a shot in training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He didn’t make the team, but in September was signed to Seattle’s practice squad. Hampton didn’t quite last two weeks before being released, failing to latch on with another team for the remainder of the season.
2022 outlook: It’s getting pretty grim for Hampton’s NFL chances. His size (6’3″, 249 lbs) makes him a TE/WR ‘tweener and a team could bring him in for depth during the summer. The fact that he was not added to any other practice squads during the year, even with the size increase of that roster, is concerning for his future.
BattleHawks QB Jordan Ta’amu
QB Jordan Ta’amu, Free Agent (St. Louis Battlehawks)
In 2021: It seemed like Ta’amu had found a home in Kansas City as a potential backup to Patrick Mahomes given their similar styles and KC’s need for youth behind their starter. However, Ta’amu didn’t even make it to training camp and was cut in May. He briefly signed with the Detroit Lions during the preseason as insurance when Tim Boyle was ailing. In December, a COVID-19 outbreak sidelined many members of the Washington Football Team. It also affected their QB room, leaving Washington at one time with Garrett Gilbert, Ta’amu, and Kyle Shurmur as their only healthy QBs. With Gilbert starting and no healthy backup on the roster, Washington chose to elevate Shurmur over Ta’amu to play behind Gilbert in week 15. Soon after, Ta’amu was released. He spent a few days on Carolina’s practice squad as the calendar turned to 2022.
2022 outlook: XFL fans who enjoyed Ta’amu’s play in 2020 are likely surprised he hasn’t stuck as a backup in the NFL. Ta’amu will be 24 years old when the 2022 NFL season begins, so he does have youth on his side. It’ll be interesting to see if he opts for a shot in the USFL to get an extended opportunity to show his wares, or if he’ll continue to try to impress on the NFL workout tour.
WR Austin Proehl, Free Agent (Seattle Dragons)
In 2021:Signed to a reserve/futures contract by San Francisco in January 2021, Proehl was waived in May. He was claimed off waivers by the L.A. Chargers and spent the entire training camp with them. He didn’t make the final roster, but was signed to the practice squad. He lasted there almost two months before being released in late October. Proehl had two stints on the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills, the team that originally drafted him in the 7th round in 2018.
2022 outlook: Proehl must have some fans in the Bills’ front office, so there’s always a chance he gets re-signed by Buffalo at some point. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see someone bring him to camp this year.
Anthony Coyle, Pittsburgh Steelers.
OT Anthony Coyle, Free Agent (New York Guardians)
In 2021: Coyle began 2021 training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but was placed on injured reserve in August and eventually released with an injury settlement. He resurfaced with the Indianapolis Colts for a month-long stint on their practice squad early in the year.
2022 outlook: With the Steelers, Coyle also practiced at center, which could theoretically increase his value on the open market. Thus far, that hasn’t come to fruition. Coyle seems more likely to appear in the USFL than he does in the NFL this year.
WR De’Mornay Pierson-El, Free Agent (St. Louis Battlehawks)
In 2021:The speedy Pierson-El continued his nomadic pro career in 2021, signing with the Denver Broncos on the eve of training camp. He was released at the end of August. Pierson-El was an early practice squad signee with the Broncos and spent nearly the entire season there, without being an active roster call-up. He was released from the practice squad in December.
2022 outlook: A four-year pro, Pierson-El is still awaiting his first NFL regular season appearance. It wouldn’t be a shock to see him get one more shot this summer with a team, but if he doesn’t break camp with a team, that could be the end of the line.
WR Jeff Badet, Free Agent (Dallas Renegades)
In 2021: Like Pierson-El, speed is Badet’s calling card. And like Pierson-El, Badet was summoned just before the beginning of training camp, with the Atlanta Falcons calling on him. An injury prematurely ended his summer. He was released with an injury settlement after a short stint on I.R. During the regular season, the Las Vegas Raiders signed Badet to the practice squad. A team notorious for giving chances to those fleet afoot, Badet lasted about a month with the Raiders before being waived in November.
2022 outlook: Comparisons to Pierson-El go beyond their speed; their career trajectory has been quite similar. And just like Pierson-El, Badet’s flame could be extinguished around the same time as Pierson-El if he fails to make an impression in any opportunities he may get in 2022.
