In a now-deleted post on Twitter/X, Vegas Vipers WR Jeff Badet shared a text message with information concerning the upcoming dispersal draft, specifically regarding teams and players on the XFL side. December 27 will reportedly mark the first of two of those dispersal drafts. The rules:
-Each surviving team will get to protect 42 players currently on its off-season roster.
-Each of the four teams will then get to select 10 players from the rosters of those teams that did not survive the merger,
Keep in mind, nothing has officially been announced by the league(s), and therefore is subject to change. With December 27 rapidly approaching, I wanted to take a look at each XFL team’s rosters as they currently stand, what 42 players they’re most likely to protect, and name a few players they may consider targeting from the four contracted franchises.
Now onto the San Antonio Brahmas:
Projected protections (42):
QB Jack Coan
QB Matthew McKay
RB Stevie Scott III
RB Chris Smith
WR Fred Brown
WR JuanCarlos Santana
WR Calvin Turner
WR TJ Vasher
WR Jordan Veasy
TE Cary Angeline
TE Jahleel Billingsley
TE Luke Ford
OT Brendan Bordner
OT Aaron Monteiro
OT Norman Price
OT Dwayne Wallace
G Tyler Beach
G Maea Teuhema
C Luke Juriga
DE Drew Beesley
DE Mike Scott
DE Mike Tverdov
DT Javier Edwards
DT Prince Emili
DT Boogie Roberts
LB Keishawn Bierria
LB Ben Davis
LB Da’Sean Downey
LB Riko Jeffers
LB Lorenzo McCaskill
LB Jordan Williams
CB Ryan Lewis
CB Ranthony Texada
S Tenny Adewusi
S Bubba Bolden
S RJ Hubert
S Kameron Kelly
S Jack Koerner
S Sean Williams
S Evan Worthington
LS Tommy Zozus
K Christopher Dunn
Analysis:The worst team by record to return, San Antonio has turned over a good bit of its roster. They’ve added the most players by letter of intent signings than any of the other eight XFL teams. The intrigue will be at quarterback, where the team suffered through numerous injuries and ineffective play. Currently, five QBs are listed on the team’s offseason roster, and while they’re likely to protect a few, what combination is anyone’s guess. It’s a similar story for the offensive line, affected in the same way in 2023 that the quarterback room was. How many holdovers, some of whom under-performed, will be protected? The Brahmas have no punter with Brad Wing having departed for the NFL, so that opens up a protection at another position.
Possible dispersal draft targets
QB Quinten Dormady (Orlando Guardians)
CB Ajene Harris (Houston Roughnecks)
P Cameron Nizialek (Seattle Sea Dragons)
Analysis:Dormady showed in the second half of the season that he could command an offense and turned the Guardians from a pushover into a threat during that time. He’d at least compete with Coan for the starting job in 2024. The XFL’s interception leader will be up for grabs in Harris. He could fill the spot in the defensive backfield vacated by Luq Barcoo’s signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite San Antonio’s strong defense in ’23, they’re thin at CB right now. Nizialek is a veteran who could step in for Wing if he doesn’t come back for 2024. San Antonio could also choose to sign a punter later on and fill other needs here.
