With Dormady gone, who will be behind the center for the Orlando Guardians? (Photo Credit: Adam McCullough for XFLBoard)
Reports surfaced overnight that the Orlando Guardians had released backup QB Quinten Dormady. Dormady no longer appears on the team’s XFL.com roster and his statistics have been removed from the league’s stats page. That leaves Orlando with two quarterbacks rostered, with room to add one more. Given the team’s offensive output in the first two games, the team may consider trading for a quarterback to come in and start for them as opposed to signing a backup.
When you’re 0-2 in a 10-game regular season, you need to move quickly to make changes in order to compete for a playoff spot. The release of Dormady gives them an opportunity to fill that spot with someone who can come in and play immediately. They could sign a free agent, but that player may not be in the game shape needed to contribute right away. A trade may be their best option; bringing in someone who has been working out, who is in shape, and who may be more talented than anyone they can sign off the street at this point in the season.
The player won’t be up to speed enough to play this weekend but could cram enough to start the week after. By that point, Orlando could be 0-3 and it would at least give the two-headed monster of Paxton Lynch and Deondre Francois one more opportunity to prove they’re capable of leading the offense. If they can’t, the newly-acquired QB could be safely inserted. But who could that player be? Here are three options for Orlando should they go the trade route:
-Luis Perez, Vegas Vipers: Perez appears to have lost his starting job to Brett Hundley after the rain-soaked Saturday night game against the DC Defenders. Hundley was always expected to come in and start once he was comfortable with the playbook. Las Vegas, however, may prefer to have a competent backup; the dropoff from Perez to third-stringer Jalan McClendon could be significant. Perez has shown in previous spring leagues (TSL, USFL, XFL, AAF) that he can sling it and he’s played in enough schemes where he should be able to pick up the offense quickly. Orlando has a relatively talented WR corps including Charleston Rambo, Eli Rogers and Lance Lenoir; they just need someone who can get them the ball. Perez could be that guy. (Note: Perez is still listed as the starter on Vegas’s unofficial week three depth chart)
-Cole McDonald, Houston Roughnecks: The Roughnecks have a deep QB group with Kaleb Eleby as their third QB; depending on how he has performed in practice, Houston may feel good about elevating him to #2 in the event of a McDonald trade. McDonald would fit Orlando’s offense. Their offensive line has been leaky, necessitating someone who can navigate the pocket and work on the run. McDonald has been used as a short-yardage and option QB in the first two games with Houston, so he has the ability to use his legs that will come in handy running Orlando’s offense.
-Reid Sinnnett, San Antonio Brahmas: Sinnett and Jack Coan were neck-and-neck in training camp for San Antonio before Coan was announced as the starter. Sinnett is one of the few backups who has yet to see game action, and it doesn’t appear he will anytime soon if Coan continues his strong play. Sinnett is a four-year veteran; Orlando is more likely to try to trade for someone with experience rather than a rookie like Eleby or Steven Montez. Sinnett would be more of a game-manager for Orlando, which may be exactly what they’re looking for; they need to find someone who won’t take sacks and won’t turn the ball over. Sinnett may be a better option than either Lynch or Francois.
