Portland State senior tight end Charlie Taumoepeau runs with the ball. (Portland State Athletics)
On January 28, 2023, the St. Louis Battlehawks dealt TE Charlie Taumoepeau to the Seattle Sea Dragons for OT Kai Absheer.
Charlie Taumoepeau played for Portland State, where he was named to the 2019 Big Sky Football All Conference Team following his senior season, and invited to the 2020 Senior Bowl. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020, but was waived on September 2, 2020. he signed for short stints with the Indianapolis Colts, and San Francisco 49er practice squads, before he signed with the Detroit Lions on May 17, 2021. Unfortunately, he was a passenger in a car accident which led to an injury and eventual release from the Lions on March 16, 2022. On January 1, 2023, Taumoepeau was selected by the St. Louis BattleHawks in the 14th round of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft.
OT Kai Absheer was selected by the Seattle Sea Dragons in the 1st round of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft. Absheer came out of Florida International University where he appeared in 12 games, making seven starts in his senior year (2018). He was part of an o-line that only allowed a school-record low eight sacks all season, and helped the FIU offense to a conference-best ranking in many offensive stats. Absheer was signed to the rosters of the Ottawa RedBlacks (CFL) and New Orleans Breakers (USFL) prior to getting interest from the XFL.
Please note, when the XFL PR announced the trade, the teams were reversed.
