Through the first few weeks of training camp, NFL fans are forced to rely on coverage from beat writers and team-approved websites for the blow-by-blow of each day. It’s hard to get a handle on where the players stand at each position. The closest we get is when depth charts are released prior to the first preseason game. With the first preseason games on the horizon, those depth charts have been unleashed on the world.
There are two important things to note about these depth charts:
They are unofficial and are compiled by team public relations and communications staff, NOT by the coaches; and
Many of them give deferential treatment to veterans over rookies
Now, that’s not to say these depth charts can’t be instructive; they are, after all, the best guess based on what has been observed over the course of almost a dozen practices. At this time of year, these rankings are fluid, just as rosters are, and players will be up and down based not only on practice performance but also work in the three preseason games.
For spring football fans, this is the first time we get a glimpse as to the chances those players have of making their teams’ 53-man rosters at the end of this month. This series will look at where each of them stand on those depth charts. I’ve broken this up into three articles: Players from the UFL in 2024; players from the USFL in 2022 and 2023; and players from the XFL in 2020 and 2023.
This first article profiled players who have signed with NFL teams following this UFL season. You can find that here. I’ve included their jersey number so that you may keep this list handy if you want to track them while watching this year’s slate of exhibition games. This list focuses on those from the USFL that are now in the NFL.
Atlanta: A USFL-on-USFL crime could be heating up in Hotlanta. The one combo XFL/USFL player on this list, S Micah Abernathy (#29 – Renegades/Gamblers) backs up Jessie Bates III at one of the safety spots. He’s ahead of Dane Cruikshank and S Tre Tarpley III (#38 – Maulers), two fringe roster players that could challenge Abernathy for his roster spot. Keep an eye on this battle during the preseason games.
Carolina: A former defensive tackle at Alabama, DE LaBryan Ray (#93 – Stars) has moved to end in Carolina’s 3-4 alignment. Ray played five games and made one tackle for the Panthers in 2023 and enters the preseason with a good chance to make the roster. He’s listed as second-team defensive end with A’Shawn Robinson ahead of him and Junior Aho behind him. Aho is an International Pathway Player from France whose presence won’t count against the roster.
Cincinnati: In the Bengals’ three-man front, DT Domenique Davis (#72 – Gamblers) is positioned at the nose tackle spot. There are four players listed there, and Davis is fourth, behind rookie third round pick McKinnley Jackson, who is on the third team. Jackson will likely make it as a high draft pick, so Davis’s competition may be Jay Tufele, listed as the primary backup to starter Sheldon Rankins.
Dallas: The kicker that took America by storm, K Brandon Aubrey (#17 – Stallions) goes into the 2024 season uncontested for his spot. And deservedly so, as he performed well beyond expectations last season.
Hanging on to a spot at the back of the roster is CB Josh Butler (#31 – Panthers). Dallas may keep anywhere from six to seven corners on the opening day roster and Butler is hovering on that seventh/eighth corner line along with a number of other folks.
The return skills of WR Kavontae Turpin (#9 – Generals) ensure him a roster spot no matter where he appears on the WR depth chart. To wit, Turpin is the number one punt and kick returner. Dallas would like to get him more involved in the offense this year – right now he appears as second team receiver behind Brandin Cooks.
Denver: The Broncos’ punter battle is so intense that the depth chart lists both as starter, separated by “OR.” There’s no such consternation at long snapper, where LS Mitchell Fraboni (#48 – Maulers) currently faces no competition for his job.
Detroit: Finding himself on the fourth team at one of three starting receiver spots, WR Kaden Davis (#88 – Panthers) has a lot of ground to make up. Davis signed with Detroit in May after being released by Arizona in April. He has Donovan Peoples-Jones ahead of him, and that’s a player that has eight games of experience already in Detroit (and in this offense) from last season.
Another USFL receiver that will battle to make Detroit’s roster is WR Maurice Alexander (#1 – Stars). Alexander has a fighting chance, as he’s listed at the third-team in the slot. Tre’Quan Smith and rookie Jalon Calhoun are behind him. Alexander has the advantage of having been on and off Detroit’s roster since 2022, which was also the year he saw 10 games of action with the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL.
Houston: The twin brother of current Birmingham Stallion Carlos Davis, DT Khalil Davis (#94 – Stallions) played for the Stallions as well in 2023 before graduating to the NFL. After initially getting cut at the end of camp last year, then signed to Houston’s practice squad, Davis was quickly promoted and played in 15 games with one start as a valuable reserve tackle. In a scheme with four down-linemen, Davis is the primary backup at one of the DT spots, behind starter Mario Edwards, Jr., and ahead of McTelvin Agim. Davis has a path to making the roster if he can fend of Agim’s challenge.
Indianapolis: Finding himself on the third team at receiver, WR DJ Montgomery (#2 – Panthers) is in a better spot than most spring football receivers this summer. He’s ahead of Laquon Treadwell, an NFL veteran new to the Colts, so Treadwell could pass Montgomery with time.
Los Angeles Chargers: This is the third year as a pro for CB Matt Hankins (#23 – Stallions) and he has yet to play in an NFL regular season game. Those fortunes could change this year. Hankins is the third corner behind Kristian Fulton and Deane Leonard. Notably, he’s ahead of Cam Hart, a fifth round pick of the Chargers this year. Hart will probably move up a spot or two as we near the end of camp.
New England: The Patriots list two tight ends among its starting lineup, giving TE La’Michael Pettway (#46 – Stallions) a better chance of making the team. He is second-string behind Austin Hooper at one of the two. Undrafted free agent Jacob Warren is behind him so Pettway does appear to have a clear path to the backup role.
Along the defensive line, DT Jeremiah Pharms, Jr. (#98 – Maulers) is listed with Trysten Hill as second-team tackle. Davon Godchaux is the starter. Hill, a former second round pick of the Dallas Cowboys, signed to New England’s practice squad in October and then signed a futures deal with the team. Pharms versus Hill will be one competition to keep an eye on during the preseason.
Signed the day the depth chart was released, LS Tucker Addington (#46 – Gamblers) was therefore not listed, but he’ll back up veteran Joe Cardona at the spot. This is not Addington’s first go-round with the Patriots, as he snapped in a few games as an injury replacement back in 2022. A signing this late in camp doesn’t necessarily reflect true competition at the position but rather perhaps an effort to give Cardona, now in his 10th year, a bit of a breather now and then.
Philadelphia: Though he spent 2023 with the Cleveland Browns on their practice squad, WR Austin Watkins, Jr. (#41 – Stallions) was not signed to a futures contract in January. That allowed him to be scooped up by the Eagles. Watkins finds himself on the fourth team at one of three wide receiver positions, behind Johnny Wilson and Joseph Ngata.
Pittsburgh: We know the Steelers like to run the ball, as their hiring of Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator attests. They have seven running backs in camp, and someone has to be the caboose. That is RB Aaron Shampklin (#33 – Gamblers). And the bad news is Pittsburgh also carries a fullback, which likely means one less RB position on the 53-man roster than most teams will have.
Washington: Another former Birmingham receiver finding his way to the NFL, WR Davion Davis (#84 – Stallions) is stuck at fourth on the depth chart. Those ahead of him, Dyami Brown and Brycen Tremayne, are no sure things to make the roster, so all is not lost quite yet for Davis.
