Since October, dribs and drabs of XFL letter of intent signings have been made public by the league. In the last week, however, the number of transactions made by teams – both additions and subtractions – has accelerated. Here are five that stand out to me as potentially impactful for the upcoming 2024 season (in no particular order).
Defenders lose three starters to retirement
Nine players were released by the DC Defenders on Wednesday. Surprisingly, three of them finished the season as starters: DT Caraun Reid, DE Jacub Panasiuk, and TE Ethan Wolf. After I spotted this on the XFL’s transaction page and posted about it on Twitter/X, a member of the Defenders reached out to me to clarify that the three starters had all retired. Wolf (28 years old), Panasiuk (24) and Reid (32) will have to be replaced by the North Division Champions next year.
The Defenders have yet to officially add a tight end, though Kahale Warring, who spent all of last season on IR, could eat up some of Wolf’s snaps. The team also hasn’t addressed the defensive line in a significant way this offseason. Some of the depth from last year returns, which could fill the holes left by Reid and Panasiuk. In particular, DT Niles Scott, another player sidelined by injury all of last year, could step into Reid’s spot in the middle.
These are not the first players to retire from football following the 2023 XFL season. It’s a good reminder that while the league affords players a place to making a living playing the game – even if they don’t make the NFL – some players would rather hang up their cleats when those NFL aspirations dry up.
QBs out, QBs in for Roughnecks
Brandon Silvers is the last quarterback from 2023 standing for the Houston Roughnecks, and his spot may not be guaranteed, either. The Roughnecks drafted Lindsey Scott, Jr. in the June Rookie Draft, and the record-setting passer out of Incarnate Word signed his letter of intent in October. He spurned the USFL and CFL to compete in Houston.
Among a bevy of additions to the active list made by the Roughnecks the previous week was QB Tom Flacco, younger brother of Joe Flacco, who is back in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns. Tom played at Western Michigan and Rutgers before finally settling in at Towson. A product of the 2020 NFL Draft, Flacco spent some time up north in the CFL before signing with the Roughnecks.
On Friday, Houston released the other two quarterbacks they had on their roster in Cole McDonald and Kaleb Eleby. Rumors continue to swirl around the future of the Roughneck franchise and what these releases mean in the long run. McDonald was used as a change-of-pace QB in 2023 and Eleby played only in the regular season finale. If Houston returns to the merged league in 2024, their quarterback room will look quite different than it did in 2023.
Battlehawks run it back
Though they failed to make the playoffs in 2023, the St. Louis Battlehawks were a talented team done in by circumstance. The playoff seeding system cost them a shot at the postseason despite their 7-3 record. Their home games were the most well-attended of any in the league, and by a significant margin. Combine those two successes with a player’s coach in Anthony Becht, and it’s no surprise players are jumping at the chance to rejoin the team for another season.
Five 2023 players who signed with NFL teams this offseason have already signed letters of intent to return to St. Louis for 2024. That’s more than any other team in that category. This past week, LB Carson Wells, a key player on defense, signed his LOI to come back. In addition, St. Louis is the only team to have two players drafted in 2022, but who signed with NFL teams before signing an XFL contract, sign letters of intent to play in 2024. One of them, WR Ja’Marcus Bradley, signed this past week.
Bradley was a second round pick in 2022 by the Battlehawks. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers shortly after St. Louis selected him. He went to camp with the Steelers this summer but was released. Bradley will improve the depth at receiver for the Battlehawks, a team that has lost several players at that position to the NFL (and Gary Jennings to the USFL).
Brahmas have sneaky good week
The San Antonio Brahmas significantly improved their roster with the LOI signings made this week. It started on Wednesday when the team added OL Aaron Monteiro. Monteiro has been around the periphery of the NFL since 2019. He’s been signed and released at least 13 times by four NFL teams. Anyone getting that many opportunities must have some talent, and the Brahmas could use it given their offensive line troubles last year.
On Thursday, they followed that up by snagging DT Boogie Roberts out of the USFL. This week, several USFL players signed LOIs with XFL teams. Roberts may be the most accomplished of the bunch. With the Pittsburgh Maulers in 2023, Roberts had 32 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and three sacks. San Antonio had a strong defense in 2023 but lost several defensive linemen to the NFL, none of whom have re-signed with the XFL to this point. Roberts would help offset any losses along the line.
Friday brought a few upgrades at positions of need: Another USFL alum, RB Stevie Scott III, signed a LOI with the Brahmas. Scott played two years in the USFL and earned NFL contracts after both of those seasons. With Jacques Patrick still trying to find a spot in the NFL, and Kalen Ballage coming back from a torn Achilles, there is a spot for Scott in the backfield.
The team also brought in K Christopher Dunn to potentially replace John Parker Romo. Romo, like Patrick, was in NFL training camp and is still looking for work as a free agent. If he chooses not to return or signs a futures deal after the NFL season, there shouldn’t be much drop-off in production with Dunn taking over. The 2022 Groza Award winner as the top kicker in college football, Dunn set numerous records with the Wolfpack before signing with the Los Angeles Rams following the 2023 NFL Draft.
Battlehawks benefit from Roughnecks sell-off
Whatever the reason for Houston’s roster turnover, St. Louis may have been one of the big beneficiaries of it. This move wasn’t listed on the XFL.com transaction page (yet), but XFL News Hub’s Pat Rifino reported that the Battlehawks claimed RB Max Borghi off waivers from Houston. Borghi finished fifth in the XFL in rushing in 2023, leading the Roughnecks in that category.
St. Louis was down to two running backs prior to the Borghi acquisition: Mataeo Durant, a backup last year; and Kevon Latulas, a Rookie Draft pick. Last year’s starter Brian Hill was released to join the NFL, and third-stringer Kareem Walker was also let go. Borghi would certainly bring a more dynamic presence to the Battlehawks backfield.
