Quarterback Jason Bean, Kansas State, the first pick of the 2024 UFL Rookie Draft.
Much of the NFL preseason attention of alternative football fans has been focused on players who were a part of the UFL in 2024. However, players drafted by UFL teams in July were also competing for roster spots across the league during the last three weeks of game action.
Each UFL team selected 10 players, the vast majority of whom were already under NFL contract as undrafted free agents. Now that initial 53-man rosters and practice squads are set, let’s take a look at where those UFL draft picks ended up.
Arlington Renegades
Players on active rosters: 2
(LB Amari Gainer – Raiders, DT Taki Taimani – Vikings)
Players on practice squads: 3
(QB John Rhys Plumlee – Jaguars, LB Bo Richter – Vikings, WR Drake Stoops – Rams)
Players on injured reserve: 1
(NT Popo Aumavae – Panthers)
Free agents: 4
(OT Griffin McDowell, LB Kalen DeLoach, OT Spencer Rolland, C Briason Mays)
UFL Letter of Intent (LOI) signings: 0
Arlington’s first round draft pick, QB John Rhys Plumlee, was free for a short time after Pittsburgh released him and opted against signing him to the practice squad. A few days later, Jacksonville snapped him up to replace Michigan Panthers QB EJ Perry as the third quarterback on the practice squad. Plumlee won’t see many reps in practice there but perhaps he’ll see time at other positions: He returned kickoffs during the preseason for the Steelers. Plumlee may also become available later in the season as the Jaguars waived their backup from last year, CJ Beathard, with an injury settlement, meaning he can’t re-sign with the team for seven weeks. After that time has passed, they may choose to use the veteran as their third QB instead of the rookie Plumlee. Elsewhere, Arlington’s second and third round picks are currently free agents, and of the four unsigned, three are along the offensive line. We’ve seen how important it is to stockpile talent at that position, so that works out in Arlington’s favor.
Birmingham Stallions
Players on active rosters: 5
(OT Frank Crum – Broncos, WR Isaiah Williams – Lions, TE Dallin Holker – Saints, OT Andrew Coker – Raiders, OT Ethan Driskell – Chiefs)
Players on practice squads: 3
(OT Lorenzo Thompson – Browns, RB Emani Bailey – Chiefs, QB Sam Hartman – Commanders)
Players on injured reserve: 0
Free agents: 2
(DE Trajan Jeffcoat, WR Ahmarean Brown)
UFL Letter of Intent (LOI) signings: 0
Just over 40 undrafted rookies from 2024 made NFL rosters out of camp; the Stallions drafted five of them. RB Emani Bailey has already been off-and-on the Chiefs’ practice squad. You’ll see those 17 players churned more often than active roster players, making it more likely those on practice squads will be available to UFL teams next February for camp than current active roster players. DE Trajan Jeffcoat, who was released off injured reserve, and WR Ahmarean Brown are the two players currently free agents and thus free to sign an LOI with the league at this point. Birmingham went heavy in choosing offensive linemen, using 40% of their draft capital at the position. However, all four are spoken for in the NFL at this time.
D.C. Defenders
Players on active rosters: 3
(DT Leonard Taylor – Jets, DE Braiden McGregor – Jets, LB Curtis Jacobs – Patriots)
Players on practice squads: 5
(QB Kedon Slovis – Texans, RB Michael Wiley – Commanders, LB Dallas Gant – Vikings, QB Tanner Mordecai – 49ers, S Omar Brown – Packers)
Players on injured reserve: 0
Free agents: 2
(OT Gottlieb Ayedze, OT Garrett Greenfield)
UFL Letter of Intent (LOI) signings: 0
The heavy practice squad presence bodes well for the Defenders even though only two players are currently free agents. The turnover on practice squads means it’s likely at least a few of these players may be released and able to join D.C. by the end of the year. Their first-round pick, OT Gottlieb Ayedze, is one of the two players unsigned at this moment. Both players who went to camp with the New York Jets, DT Leonard Taylor and DE Braiden McGregor, made the 53-man roster out of camp. LB Curtis Jacobs was released by Kansas City at the end of August but claimed by New England and placed on their roster. S Omar Brown was cut by Denver but resurfaced on Green Bay’s practice squad.
Houston Roughnecks
Players on active rosters: 0
Players on practice squads: 0
Players on injured reserve: 0
Free agents: 10 (DE Eyabi Okie, S Tra Fluellen, G Kam Stutts, LB Donovan Manuel, OL Hayden Gillum, TE Malcolm Epps, LB Xavier Benson, CB Rayshad Williams, CB Malik Dunlap, TE Geor’quarius Spivey)
UFL Letter of Intent (LOI) signings: 4
(DE Eyabi Okie, TE Malcolm Epps, LB Xavier Benson, CB Malik Dunlap)
The Roughnecks took a completely different tact than most other teams in the draft, focusing on players who had not signed as undrafted free agents. A few, like CB Rayshad Williams and TE Geor’quarius Spivey did end up in training camps, but were not retained on practice squads. They currently lead the UFL in LOI signings. With as much as they’ve cycled through the roster this off-season already, it’s clear that new general manager Will Lewis wants to make wholesale changes for next year. Having rookies ready to come in and compete for spots is key to creating competition. Drafting players more likely to be accessible to them next year is a part of that strategy, and a part that has already paid off.
Memphis Showboats
Players on active rosters: 4
(RB Blake Watson – Broncos, DE Eric Watts – Jets, C Andrew Raym – Panthers, WR Mason Tipton – Saints)
Players on practice squads: 3
(QB Jason Bean – Colts, DT Evan Anderson – 49ers, WR Jalen Coker – Panthers)
Players on injured reserve: 1
(TE McCallan Castles – Eagles)
Free agents: 2
(LB Yvandy Rigby, CB Ja’Quan Sheppard)
UFL Letter of Intent (LOI) signings: 0
These players were drafted under the John DeFilippo/Dennis Polian regime; now, both are gone and the Showboats are seeking a new head coach and general manager. Were these players drafted to fit Coach Flip’s scheme and desires? Or did they know at the time that DeFilippo would not be around for 2025, drafting more generally for talent over fit? Either way, new leadership may have a different philosophy and view of these players than did their predecessors. The first overall draft pick, QB Jason Bean, beat out another UFL draft pick in Indianapolis, Kedon Slovis, to win the number three quarterback job. WR Jalen Coker initially made the 53-man roster but was waived when Carolina claimed a league-high six players off waivers after final cuts.
Michigan Panthers
Players on active rosters: 2
(CB Dwight McGlothern – Vikings, C Andrew Meyer – Dolphins)
Players on practice squads: 3
(DE Isaac Ukwu – Lions, WR Dayton Wade – Ravens, S Isaiah Stalbird – Saints)
Players on injured reserve: 0
Free agents: 5
(OT Julian Pearl, OT Brian Dooley, QB Rocky Lombardi, S Akeem Dent, G JD Duplain)
UFL Letter of Intent (LOI) signings: 1
(G JD Duplain)
Michigan has an interesting situation at the QB position: They recently re-signed Bryce Perkins, the most dynamic option they had last season. They also re-signed Danny Etling and EJ Perry (prior to having to release him to join Jacksonville). Now, they could potentially have a fourth option in Rocky Lombardi, a local product from Ann Arbor who played several years at Michigan State. He was in training camp with Cincinnati this summer. G JD Duplain, another former Spartan, should add competition to the interior of the offensive line next spring. McGlothern was one of the top UDFA performers in the preseason, so it was no surprise he made the Vikings roster.
San Antonio Brahmas
Players on active rosters: 1
(S Beau Brade – Ravens)
Players on practice squads: 4
(DT Gabe Hall – Eagles, OT Donovan Jennings – Packers, DE Jamree Kromah – Bears, WR Joshua Cephus – Jaguars)
Players on injured reserve: 1
(DE Gabriel Murphy – Vikings)
Free agents: 4
(CB Miles Battle, WR Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin, C Sincere Haynesworth, CB DJ Miller)
UFL Letter of Intent (LOI) signings: 0
San Antonio’s top three draft picks are signed into the NFL; DE Gabriel Murphy could be released from IR with an injury settlement, but Minnesota may see some long-term potential in him and use this as a bit of a “redshirt” year. He could be kept on injured reserve to be brought to camp again in 2025. San Antonio is re-tooling their secondary, having released CBs Quincy Wilson and Teez Tabor and bringing in rookie CB Kaleb Ford-Dement, as well as CB Chris Steele. They’ve also re-signed a few players at that position from last year. Two of their draft picks at corner are free agents and if San Antonio is able to get them to sign LOIs, that’s even more competition on the back end of the defense for next season.
For a team that finished second in its division and made the playoffs, St. Louis is in a good spot with its draft class. They have the second-most free agents available to sign; they’ve received the second-most LOIs from their draft class in the league; and of all the quarterbacks taken in the draft, they have one of two that is currently free to bring in. They can infuse all the talent into their roster, but it’ll ultimately come down to the fate of QB AJ McCarron and whether he decides to return for another go-round. Whether he does or not, securing the services of Cordeiro will be important to either challenge for the starting role in McCarron’s absence, or develop behind him to eventually take over when AJ does step away from the game.
