Before diving into the XFL Conference teams, a few notes about the chart you’ll see. In the first column, I’ve included the round the player was selected in the UFL Draft, and the overall selection at which that player was taken. In the second column is the college all-star game the player attended, if any. For the third column, I used what I find to be the most in-depth (and often, most accurate) draft rankings available, that of Dane Brugler’s in The Athletic. I also included whether the player signed as an undrafted free agent (UDFA) with an NFL team, or tried out at rookie minicamp, remaining unsigned. Finally, I include my own personal comments and impressions on the player.
My USFL Conference draft breakdown can be found here.
Arlington Renegades
Round, Overall
Player, School
All-star game attended
Brugler positional ranking
NFL rookie minicamp status
Comments
1 (3) QB John Rhys Plumlee, UCF
Hula, Shrine
16
UDFA Steelers
Also played baseball in college, Plumlee is an athlete (was moved to WR at one point) adept at the RPO
2 (11) OT Griffin McDowell, Chattanooga
None
42
UDFA Chiefs
Florida transfer was 13-game starter at left tackle in only season for Mocs
3 (19) LB Kalen DeLoach, FSU
Shrine
21
UDFA Bucs
Undersized (5’11”) but fast (4.47 40); second-team All-American in 2023
4 (27) NT Popo Aumavae, Oregon
Hula
44
UDFA Panthers
Missed 2022 with a foot injury, then came back and played a lot of snaps in middle of Ducks line in ‘23
5 (35) LB Amari Gainer, North Carolina
None
35
UDFA Raiders
Not a full-time starter on defense at UNC after transferring from FSU; made 210 tackles as a Seminole in five years
6 (43) LB Bo Richter, Air Force
None
29
UDFA Vikings
Had 19.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks in ‘23; you can bet he’s a disciplined player
7 (51) DT Taki Taimani, Oregon
None
28
UDFA Vikings
The second Oregon DT drafted by Arlington, Taimani is another that won’t “wow” with stats but does dirty work inside
8 (59) OT Spencer Rolland, North Carolina
Tropical
37
UDFA Vikings
Started two years at RT for Tar Heels after earning first team All-Ivy League at Harvard
9 (67) C Briason Mays, Southern Miss.
None
44
UDFA 49ers
Started games at center, left tackle and right tackle at West Virginia and Southern Miss
10 (75) WR Drake Stoops, Oklahoma
Shrine
46
UDFA Rams
Yes, he’s head coach Bob Stoops’ son, but this is no nepotism pick: The kid can play
It was a surprise when Arlington went quarterback in round one, owing to the fact that the Renegades appear to have one of the strongest depth charts at that position in the league. In spring football, you can never have too many QBs, and the Luis Perez hourglass may be running out of sand. Plumlee’s athleticism will be an asset in a league like the UFL. Two pairs of teammates were selected and while the offensive line added bodies, a few felt like reaches given who was available. Notably, the Renegades took three linebackers, a position at which I cited the team needed to get younger. They brought in players there that should affect both the run and the pass.
Best pick: People will read into the selection of WR Drake Stoops with the final pick that his dad, Bob, is sticking around as head coach. That may not necessarily be the case; either way, Drake could provide more pop from the slot than Arlington got in 2024. He’d be able to step in and compete for playing time right away
Questionable pick: Perhaps Arlington liked his versatility, but it’s hard to see C Briason Mays making an impact right away. Again, it felt like there were other, better centers on the board, especially because so few at that position were taken in this draft.
Most intriguing pick: Historically, service academy players tend to be limited athletically and/or schematically. If there’s a player that can break that mold, it’s LB Bo Richter, who has a high ceiling on defense because of his athletic testing. At the very least, he can be a demon on coverage teams.
D.C. Defenders
Round, Overall
Player, School
All-star game attended
Brugler positional ranking
NFL rookie minicamp status
Comments
1 (4) OT Gottlieb Ayedze, Maryland
Shrine
15
UDFA Eagles
Athletic prospect played one year at Maryland after being three-time first-team all-conference at Frostburg State
2 (12) QB Kedon Slovis, BYU
Shrine
14
UDFA Colts
Has similar size profile to Jordan Ta’amu, and played RPO-type offense at BYU
3 (20) DT Leonard Taylor, Miami (FL)
Shrine
13
UDFA Jets
Has the talent to have gone in mid-rounds of NFL Draft, but too often failed to translate that into on-field production
4 (28) OT Garrett Greenfield, South Dakota State
Shrine
22
UDFA Seahawks
Played 65 games, starting 55, for FCS powerhouse, including plenty at both right and left tackle
5 (36) DE Braiden McGregor, Michigan
Senior
23
UDFA Jets
Fourth-year junior left college with limited resume as part of rotation of rush ends
6 (44) RB Michael Wiley, Arizona
Hula, Senior
29
UDFA Commanders
Built in similar mold to other Defenders backs, but has added pass-catching ability
7 (52) LB Dallas Gant, Toledo
Shrine
28
UDFA Vikings
Didn’t start a game in four years at Ohio State; became two-time first-team All-MAC as Toledo inside ‘backer
8 (60) LB Curtis Jacobs, Penn State
Shrine
10
UDFA Chiefs
Five-star recruit was three-year starter at weakside linebacker for Nittany Lions
9 (68) QB Tanner Mordecai, Wisconsin
None
25
UDFA 49ers
Struggled to help Badgers transition to spread scheme; shocked scouts with 4.53 40 at pro day
10 (76) S Omar Brown, Nebraska
Shrine
34
UDFA Broncos
Freshman All-American with Northern Iowa in 2019; started as nickel for Cornhuskers in 2023
Despite the sub-.500 record last season, Defenders general manager Von Hutchins is one of the best in the UFL at roster-building. That was on display again here. Six of the selections had NFL draftable grades from Brugler, including a couple that could’ve gone as high as the fifth round. The latter few selections, with the exception of Curtis Jacobs, were used on more priority free-agent types. This also means Hutchins drafted with little regard for the possibility that these players will enter the UFL in 2025: Their rankings indicate that many should make practice squads and rosters, thus not being able to help D.C. in the immediate term. Stranger things have happened, however, and if there’s one GM I’d trust to build a bridge for these players to come to the UFL, it’s Hutchins.
Seven of the 10 players attended the East-West Shrine Game, the second-most prominent college all-star game behind the Senior Bowl. They also picked two national champions: Greenfield, at the FCS level, and McGregor at the FBS level. Building a winning team and culture is about building a team with players that know how to win. Six of the players chosen played in the Big Ten Conference at one time or another. The Defenders were the only team to select two quarterbacks in the draft. Kedon Slovis has a starter ceiling in a league like the UFL and ran a system similar to the one D.C. offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss likes to use. Tanner Mordecai comes from the spread system at SMU and Wisconsin. With his running ability, he could be the replacement for D’Eriq King the team never found in 2024. Jordan Ta’amu’s return is not a guarantee, and Slovis could be in the mix to take over for him.
Best pick: Without Abram Smith last year, D.C. struggled to run the ball. It was a big part of their offensive identity in 2023 that fell by the wayside when neither Cam’Ron Harris nor Darius Hagans could adequately fill that role. D.C. needed to find a better backup, provided Smith returns healthy, someone who could step in and start. They found it in RB Michael Wiley. Wiley will also offer more of a pass-catching threat out of the backfield, something that is not a strength of the current RB triumvirate. Wiley is a back that seeks contact and is in the mold of Smith, Hagans and Harris, so he should be a fit with this group.
Questionable pick: Really difficult to nick D.C. for any of their choices here. Splitting hairs, but DE Braiden McGregor, while someone with potential, hasn’t put it together completely on the field. Part of that is because he was used in a heavy rotation at Michigan and was just a one-year starter. McGregor is probably a year away from contributing at a significant level, making him a jar on the shelf for either an NFL team, or for the Defenders.
Most intriguing pick: The fact that DT Leonard Taylor was even here, eligible to be drafted by UFL teams, would’ve been a shock a few short years ago. Taylor was the number four defensive line recruit in the country in 2021. In his first season, he compiled 9.5 tackles for loss, then led the team the next year in that stat with 10.5. However, he had a down junior year then decided to skip his senior season and turn pro. Taylor’s pedigree makes him the definition of an intriguing pick, provided he can stay healthy, disciplined, and consistent.
San Antonio Brahmas
Round, Overall
Player, School
All-star game attended
Brugler positional ranking
NFL rookie minicamp status
Comments
1 (7) DT Gabe Hall, BYU
Senior
11
UDFA Eagles
Projected as a fourth-round NFL pick by Brugler, his lack of splash plays and inconsistency gives pause
2 (15) DE Gabriel Murphy, UCLA
Shrine
12
UDFA Vikings
Another projected fourth-rounder, Murphy is a better prospect than his twin brother, Grayson
3 (23) OT Donovan Jennings, USF
Shrine
30
UDFA Packers
Better pass protector than run blocker, fitting Brahmas; could move to guard
4 (31) CB Miles Battle, Utah
None
50
UDFA Chiefs
Ole Miss transfer and former WR has the length at 6’3”, just needs more experience
5 (39) DE Jamree Kromah, James Madison
Shrine
42
UDFA Bears
Didn’t see the field much with Rutgers, so transferred to JMU and had big 2023 (20.5 TFL, 11 sacks)
6 (47) WR Lideatrick Griffin, Mississippi State
Shrine
35
UDFA Raiders
Goes by nickname “Tulu,” did a lot in slot with short, quick passes that Brahmas like to run; can also return kicks
7 (55) S Beau Brade, Maryland
Senior
12
UDFA Ravens
Leading tackler for Terrapins two years running, Brade can handle TEs and RBs in pass coverage
8 (63) C Sincere Haynesworth, Tulane
Tropical
22
UDFA Saints
Manned the pivot for a prolific offense and earned plenty of accolades; uses short stature (6’0”) as leverage
9 (71) CB DJ Miller, Kent State
Tropical
98
UDFA Chiefs
Played 11 games as true freshman with Iowa State in 2019; moved to Kent State and started two seasons
10 (79) WR Joshua Cephus, UTSA
Hula, Shrine
38
UFA Jaguars
Big slot (6’2”) has two 80-plus catch seasons on his resume, making him UTSA’s all-time leader in that category
After being gashed by the Birmingham Stallions for 210 yards on the ground in the UFL Championship, San Antonio fortified the middle of their defense by drafting DT Gabe Hall in the first round. They followed that up by taking a defensive end with their second pick. To some, a curious strategy given that their defense was a strength throughout the year. But YOU try to talk a coaching legend like Wade Phillips out of wanting defensive reinforcements. While they passed on adding linebackers, San Antonio opted for three defensive backs at three different spots: An outside corner, a slot corner, and a safety.
On offense, you can see where players drafted fit into coordinator A.J. Smith’s preferred scheme: OT Donovan Jennings’s strength is pass protection, and the Brahmas like to be a pass-first team; Tulu Griffin can get into space with screens and short passes; and Joshua Cephus is the big-bodied receiver to add to the collection, potentially replacing the retiring Cody Latimer in the slot.
Best pick: Defensive back wasn’t necessarily a need for San Antonio, but S Beau Brade was too good of value to pass up in the seventh round. It could also be the Brahmas bracing for S Jordan Mosley, the league’s second-leading tackler, eventually getting an NFL opportunity (something his head coach recently stumped for on social media). Brade is just as active a tackler as Mosley is and could conceivably step right into that role. If Mosley stays in the UFL, Brade could operate in the nickel and help out on special teams.
Questionable pick: Most of the offenses in the UFL operate out of three-and-four receiver sets, meaning teams need to stockpile cornerbacks. Ideally, the UFL could develop some of these players, but with no minicamps or OTAs and a relatively short training camp, how much development can really be done before players are thrown into the fire? We may get an answer to that if we see CB Miles Battle in action this year. Battle started just six games in college and has only two years as a defensive back under his belt. The fourth round is awfully early for someone with so little experience. Perhaps San Antonio was intrigued by his 4.37 40 speed.
Most intriguing pick: He won’t wow you with speed, but WR Joshua Cephus offers a big catch radius and immense production at the Conference USA level. A lot of his work done in college was out of the slot, though his size and route-running skills indicate he could transition easily to the outside. The Jaguars’ wide receiver room will be tough to crack, so Cephus might be fighting for a practice squad slot this summer. If that’s the case, an opportunity with the Brahmas next year would at least be on the table.
St. Louis Battlehawks
Round, Overall
Player, School
All-star game attended
Brugler positional ranking
NFL rookie minicamp status
Comments
1 (5) QB Chevan Cordeiro, San Jose State
None
27
UDFA Seahawks (waived)
A 46-game starter at Hawaii and SJSU, Cordeiro is the Mountain West career leader in completions
2 (13) RB Cody Schrader, Missouri
Senior
14
UDFA 49ers
Locker room leader for Tigers could be replacement for Jacob Saylors in the Lou
3 (21) DL Pheldarius Payne, Virginia Tech
None
115
UDFA Texans (waived)
Cut loose by Texans on same day Battlehawks drafted him; quick and explosive player per Houston HC DeMeco Ryans
4 (29) OT Bradley Ashmore, Vanderbilt
None
58
Tryout Dolphins
Team captain with decent mobility started at RT but can also play guard
5 (37) LB Carl Jones, Jr., UCLA
None
49
UDFA Bears
Played in school-record 57 games but never a full-time starter; undersized at 5’11”, 219 pounds
6 (45) DT Isaiah Coe, Oklahoma
None
101
Tryout Colts
Three years at Oklahoma after playing at Iowa Western CC; a key locker room guy for HC Brent Venables
7 (53) WR Jelani Baker, Limestone
Tropical
N/A
UDFA Ravens (waived)
Only D-II player selected in this draft; exploded in 2023 for 75-1,089-14 in 12 games
8 (61) WR Jadon Janke, South Dakota State
Shrine
51
UDFA Texans
Six-year player improved every season for Jackrabbits; also returns punts
9 (69) CB Myles Sims, Georgia Tech
None
54
Tryout Chiefs, Commanders
Excellent length at 6’2”, but just two interceptions in 52 college games
10 (77) CB Myles Jones, Duke
None
67
UDFA Jets
Played just four games in 2023, but grabbed two INTs; transferred in from Texas A&M
Like Houston, St. Louis opted for players not currently under NFL contract: They came away with five (a sixth, Payne, was waived later that day). The Battlehawks took a number of six-year college players, apparently desiring that experience. They also grabbed a number of what I’d call “culture” guys, leaders who set the tone in their college locker rooms or were team captains. Head coach Anthony Becht is big on culture-setting in training camp, and having these types of players will help them do that.
St. Louis played it safe, taking a lot of players with very clean backgrounds. Curiously, only three of their players attended post-season all-star games, which could be a product of picking players further down the rankings as they did. Taking a first round quarterback may surprise people with A.J. McCarron there – however, I had them taking a QB in round one in my mock draft. Cordeiro is another one of those six-year players, long on experience, who can step in and compete right away, either for a backup job if McCarron returns, or even at starter if he doesn’t.
Best pick: Staying in-state, the Battlehawks selected RB Cody Schrader from Missouri in the second round. He ended up being the highest-ranked player at his position that St. Louis chose in the draft. There is a spot for him on the roster with Jacob Saylors graduating to the NFL and Mataeo Durant returning from a season-ending injury. Wayne Gallman is also there in a backup role. Schrader is a tough runner with over 100 receptions on his resume, something that will come in handy as St. Louis likes to get their backs involved in the pass game.
Questionable pick: The fifth round seems early to take a core special teamer, even with the UFL’s return rules, but that appears to be the role for which LB Carl Jones, Jr. will be ticketed. He does has experience rushing off the edge but at that size he will be engulfed by pro offensive tackles. Jones’s measurables aren’t comparable to anyone else St. Louis has at its LB spot, so it’s hard to see where they envision him unless they truly believe he’s ST-only. The Battlehawks were already one of the better coverage teams in the UFL last season.
Most intriguing pick: The only player drafted not to appear in Brugler’s draft guide, WR Jelani Baker started his career at West Georgia before playing the final two years at Limestone. He was a footnote with the Wolves before taking over at Limestone. In his first season there, he had 42 catches, then ramped up his production in year two with over 1,000 yards, achieving the 100-yard receiving milestone in half of the games. It was a dominant final season for Baker, who joins a deep receiver corps in St. Louis.
