2018-2019 USFL Offseason Report & Draft Preview

USFL LIVES
Jul 1
45 min read

it has been a busy winter across the USFL, as teams prep for the USFL Draft, engage in trades, sign free agents, and for two clubs, find a new head coach. No team has been more active than the LA Express, with new leadership in the personnel department and a new head coach in former Dragons' main man, Marvin Lewis. The Express have been adjusting contracts, freeing up cap room, and burining up the trade board to the point where they now may have access to two, if not three, of the top draft prospects on the board. We will start with our Big Story on the Express's new "take no prisoners" attitude, cover all the moves of the past few months, and take a long look at the USFL Draft, kicking off tomorrow with the Territorial Draft. We will also preview the pool of NFL players who are now free agents and who could hold out until the February NFL-USFL transfer window, giving the spring league a shot at a talent infusion just as the season prepares to kick off. All that starts now at This is the USFL.

The LA Express Are Done Playing Nice

It is a new day in LA, and the Express have decided that they need to seize it. We don’t know if it is just a matter of ownership getting tired of mediocre results (or worse, such as last year’s 3-win campaign) and mediocre attendance, or if it is the work of new GM Brett Veach and new, but USFL veteran Head Coach Marvin Lewis, but the LA Express are clearly headed in a new direction, and they are taking no prisoners along the way.

The Express made two trades in the past 6 weeks that dramatically alter the outlook of the 2019 USFL draft. While holding onto their 1st overall selection in the open draft, Los Angeles has managed to acquire the first overall Territorial Draft picks of two fellow USFL teams, and with each they could well target two of the top 5 prospects in the draft, and still have the 1st overall pick in the Open draft to nab a third high value player. In trading to obtain the first T-Draft picks of both the Oklahoma Outlaws and Ohio Glory, LA appears to have their targets locked on QB Kyler Murray and DE Nick Bosa, a two-fer that could radically alter the franchises fortunes moving forwards. But it was not easy.

It began in November, when the Express not only restructured the deals of no fewer than 10 starters on their 2018 roster, including QB Sam Bradford, HB Reggie Bush, and CB Stephon Gilmore, but also made some cuts to turn an $8M salary cap number into nearly $24M. That cash reserve made the next moves possible. The next big move was a deal with the Oklahoma Outlaws for their first of 3 T-Draft selections. Oklahoma had been shopping the pick around, secure in their QB position and very aware that someone would want a guaranteed shot at OU quarterback Kyler Murray. LA offered the Outlaws their 2nd round Open Draft pick this year as well as their 2nd in 2020. That was more than enough for the Outlaws to make the deal. And while some Express fans and pundits believed LA might be going after another OU product, WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, the general consensus is that for two number 2 picks, it had to be Murray in LA’s sights.

Is Murray trading Sooner Red for Speed Blue?

Now, this kind of pick for the highest rated QB in the draft pool is hardly new, and had LA stopped there, we might wonder what the plans were for veteran Sam Bradford, but we likely would not have gotten too excited about the new direction for the Express. But then, LA started lobbying hard to obtain the same 1st T-Draft pick from the Ohio Glory. Ohio had not been shopping around their 1st pick as it was pretty clear that they were interested in adding Ohio State DE Nick Bosa to the squad and hopefully improving their mid-table pass rush stats. After all, the Glory had long made a living off of those Ohio State prospects, and Bosa was a clear Top 5 talent in everyone’s draft analysis. But, when the Express offered what still seems like an obscene deal for the pick, Ohio had to take it seriously.

The deal was cut just 8 days after LA’s acquisition of the Oklahoma pick. Ohio would give LA their first 2019 T-Draft selection and in return the Glory would obtain the Express’s 1st round picks in both the 2020 T-Draft and 2020 Open Draft. That is a huge win for the Glory, particularly when you consider that many expect the 2020 Draft Class to include at least 3, maybe 4 first round QB selections, making Ohio’s 2 open draft picks now extremely valuable, while also giving them 2 T-Draft first choice selections.

With these two deals, LA is primed to make some wide sweeping changes to their team’s roster, but also their culture. Imagine 3 top tier rookies all coming into the locker room at the same time, along with a new head coach. And we are not sure the Express are done. There is now every chance that they look to trade QB Sam Bradford, if not this year, then next, and they could also still be a player in the upcoming NFL-USFL free agency window. They still have some holes on defense, particularly at MLB, a key position for any defensive squad, so we are still expecting some fireworks out of what appears to be a very different and very aggressive LA Express franchise. With the draft just days away, all eyes are now turned to the Express, something we have rarely said about a city and a franchise that has never won a title and often been significantly behind the curve compared to more prominent USFL franchises.

Stallions Sign Haley to Spark Offense

As was anticipated, it took only 1 week from the end of the NFL regular season before the Birmingham Stallions had their man. The Stallions signed Cleveland Browns OC Todd Haley as their new head coach, bringing a decidedly offensive mindset to the team. Haley, who helped lead Cleveland to their first division title since 1989 with rookie Baker Mayfield at QB, will now try to revive an offense in Birmingham that has struggled for consistency despite the presence of dual threat QB Cam Newton.

This will be Haley’s first head coaching position. Before taking on the OC position in Cleveland, Haley spent 5 years in that position with the NFL Steelers, working before that for several NFL teams as a WR position coach. With some talent on the Stallion offense, including Newton, WR Amari Cooper, underrated, but effective HB Rex Burkhead, and a strong 1-2 combo at tight end with Hunter Henry and Eric Ebron, the pieces are there for Birmingham to fare much better than their 2018 ranking as the league’s 22nd rated offense (both scoring and yards). Haley, who will be bringing another Brown coach, former DE and current D-Line coach Clyde Simmons to Birmingham as the new DC. Simmons’s task will be equally challenging, as Birmingham’s defense also struggled in 2018, finishing 25th against the pass and 21st in yards allowed.

Prior to Haley’s arrival, Birmingham made a couple of moves to improve the defense, trading for CB Dwayne Gratz and signing free agent safety Tashaun Gipson to replace the retired Will Allen. Haley will be working with the front office on this week’s draft, so expect some attention to the offense as well, though the Stallions have already traded away one of their T-Draft picks to Baltimore, assumedly allowing the Stallions to select HB Josh Jacobs out of Alabama. That still leaves several talented players in the T-Draft for Haley, including OT Jonah Williams, HB Damien Harris, CB Jamal Dean, Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham, S Deionte Thompson, and DT Quinnen Williams. Birmingham also holds the 9th pick in the USFL Open Draft, with many expecting they will look very long at more help on the defensive side, though an additional wideout and a true 3rd down back could also be in the mix.

Renegades Jump on Rivera After NFL Snub

Orlando found its man 2 weeks before the NFL season ended, thanks to an early firing by the Carolina Panthers. The NFL Panthers let 5-year head coach Ron Rivera go with 4 weeks left in their season and Orlando pounced on the chance to interview the former DC and HC of the NFL team. Many in NFL circles decried the move by Panthers’ owner David Tepper, who has come under a lot of criticism for his tampering with the club. Orlando saw the firing as an opportunity, brought Rivera in, and offered him a chance to return to the USFL for a second stint. As USFL fans will recall, Rivera spent 8 years in Pittsburgh as the lead man for the Maulers (2006-2013), leading them to two division titles and a conference championship between 2010-2011 before friction with team ownership (paired with an unexpected drop to 7-9) led to his dismissal. Just as with the current hiring, many in USFL circles back in 2012 felt that Rivera was treated unfairly by ownership and he was quickly snatched up by the Panthers for their 2012 campaign.

That cycle appears to have continued as Carolina, despite Rivera winning a division title in his first season in the NFL, then taking Carolina to 15-1 in 2025. His 2016 club dropped to 6-10, and struggled to a 5-7 start in 2018 when Rivera was let go.

In Orlando, Rivera has a squad that is reimagining itself after the demand by Calais Campbell for a trade. The Renegades agreed to a deal with Arizona, sending the 10-time Sack Champion to the Wranglers in exchange for 3 draft picks over the next 3 years. Rivera will help oversee a draft that will seek to address the huge loss to the Renegade pass rush. Most expect Orlando to select Mississippi State DE Montez Sweat in the T-Draft as a first step, but expect other picks as well to focus on the new defense Rivera hopes to bring in. However, Coach Rivera will also need to address some issues on offense, particularly after HB Latavius Murray left in free agency for Charlotte.

The Renegades have a very solid passing attack, led by QB Russell Wilson, particularly with the emergence of WR Brashad Perriman as a true number one. Perriman had 91 receptions, 1,450 yards, and 9 TDs in 2018, and the Orlando offense produced 25 passing touchdowns to only 13 on the ground (2 by Wilson). With Murray leaving, Rivera’s squad will have to find a 2nd option behind Rashad Jennings. But, as many expect, the first order of business for their new coach is to manage the loss of Campbell and produce a defense that helps Renegade fans get over the huge departure of the team’s legendary player.

As is the norm every offseason, the wave of retirement announcements slowed to a trickle in the fall, and while there are certainly some big name players who have declared their intent to file for retirement, the overall number has been quite small. Here are the most impactful departures from the past 4 months:

DT Albert Haynesworth: Houston allowed Haynesworth to enter free agency, very likely with foreknowledge that his announcement was likely. When he did not get a deal enticing enough to keep him in cleats for another year, he made his announcement. Haynesworth retires as a 9-time ALL-USFL selection and a league champion after last year’s Houston Summer Bowl victory.

LB Shantee Orr: At age 36, Orr, who played 14 seasons in Arizona, Las Vegas and San Diego, retires with 563 career tackles, 15 sacks and 8 interceptions.

FS Jairus Byrd: After a single season with Chicago, Byrd’s big break came when he was traded to Philadelphia in 2010. He would go on to serve as the starting free safety for the Stars for the next 9 seasons, racking up over 500 tackles, 25 picks, 16 sacks, and 21 forced fumbles.

OT Zach Strief: The big right tackle played 10 seasons with Atlanta, earning 2 All-USFL nods, and giving up an average of only 3.6 sacks per season.

LB Bart Scott: An interesting career for Scott, who played 10 seasons in the USFL but never started more than 8 games in any season. Scott was the epitome of the “swing” player, filling in all across the Texas/Oklahoma linebacker group.

HB Lamar Miller: A big, bruising back, who took a good share of hits as well, Miller retires at only 29-years old, having missed more than 50% of games due to injury over the past 3 years. After a career high of 700 yards rushing with Jacksonville in 2014, Miller’s health have limited him considerably, finishing 2018 with only 136 rushing yards and appearing in only 8 games.

DT Atiyyah Ellison: A veteran of 14 seasons (8 in Baltimore, 3 in Portland, and 3 in DC), Ellison retires after starting 35 of Washington’s 46 games the past three seasons.

TE Owen Daniels: A 13-year veteran who played for the Skyhawks, Maulers and Thunder, Daniels had 273 career receptions and 10 career TDs.

WR Brandon Marshall: In his13 year career, Marshall accumulated 517 receptions for 8,700 yards and 67 touchdowns. His best seasons were a strong 2-year run in Texas where he had 102 receptions for over 2,000 yards and 22 combined touchdowns. He spent his final 3 years in Memphis, but appeared in only 7 games this year for the Showboats.

A strong fall for free agent signings across the league, with a lot of teams, particularly those with larger cap allowances, finding deals and bringing players into the fold. There are still positions to fill in the draft and through the NFL-USFL window, but many teams built up their rosters with solid free agent finds from October through the winter. Here is a quick breakdown of the deals that could impact the 2019 season and beyond:

ARIZONA was busy, outbidding Jacksonville to acquire fullback Andy Janovich and signing CB Jeremy Lane to a 3-year deal. The Wranglers are still looking for help at several positions, but with plenty of cap room, they have lots of options.

DENVER: Never big spenders, the Gold still managed to add 2 key players to their roster, finding a veteran backup to help guide QB Josh Allen through his first year as the starter. Denver signed former Atlanta starter Kyle Orton to serve as Allen’s backup for the next two years. They also added a fullback to their RB Room, landing former Express blocker Jay Ballard.

MEMPHIS wanted a veteran to back up Paxton Lynch, and to help him deal with the ups and downs of his 2018 success. They found a good one in former Chicago starter Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitz-Magic seems an ideal mentor, and can also step in to the offense if Lynch struggles or suffers an injury.

SEATTLE also needed a veteran QB after Matt McGloin left early in free agency. They wanted a player who could run the same playbook as starter Jacoby Brissett, and were happy to see that Brett Hundley, a one-time starter in New Jersey, was open to a 2-year deal.

LAS VEGAS solved one of their biggest roster issues, finding a true space-eater for the middle of their D-line by signing former Fire DT Sylvester Williams to a 3-year deal. Williams is only 27 and could have many more solid years ahead of him.

BALTIMORE was thought to be looking at a true slot receiver, but with Tavon Austin signing with the NFL Rams during the transfer window, they changed gears, signing veteran Denarius Moore to a 2-year deal. Moore, who had over 100 receptions, could split time on the outside with Brian Hartline, with both or either also serving as a slot option in Baltimore’s vertical offense.

Other signings of note include WR Earl Bennett (POR), DT Daquann Jones (NOR), FS Shalom Luani (MGN), QB Bob Volek (LA), DE Trevor Guyton (CHI), LB Keenan Clayton (BIR) and guard Jeremiah Poutasi (ATL). Among those still looking for just the right deal we find SS Brandon Taylor, HB C. J. Anderson, FB Sean Smith, SS Kendrick Lewis, CB Jaylen Watkins, HB T. J. Yeldon, and WR Emmanuel Sanders.

We started our report this week with the huge deals made by the LA Express to acquire some choice Territorial Draft picks, but those deals have hardly been the only ones. Moving around in the draft often starts days if not weeks before Draft Day, and that was certainly the case this year. And while the Express have rightfully garnered a lot of attention for their aggressive moves, they are hardly alone. Here are a few more trades that will impact the next week’s draft order, and we suspect it is only the tip of the iceberg.

Denver acquires St. Louis’s 1st T-Draft Pick in trade for a 2nd round Open Draft selection (acquired from Atlanta in an earlier trade).

We know what this one is about, and we reported on it back in October as the first draft-focused deal of the year. This gives the Gold their choice of the two top tight ends in the draft, both from Iowa, either T. J. Hockenson or Noah Fant. The choice is theirs, and all they give up for it is their 2nd of two second rounders in the open draft, a pick they acquired from Atlanta in a deal last offseason.

Birmingham & Baltimore swap their 1st Territorial picks.

This is a move I am honestly surprised we don’t see more often, as team needs did not align with the talent pool in their T-Draft protected schools. Baltimore is, by nearly all accounts, seriously pursuing Alabama HB Josh Jacobs, while Birmingham is desperate to improve their secondary by signing a safety. This deal gives Baltimore exclusive USFL rights to Jacobs (though they will have to compete with the NFL, of course), while Birmingham now can lay a claim on the top-rated strong safety in the draft, Maryland’s Darnell Savage.

Arizona Drops Out of Round 1

We often see these kinds of moves in the days just before the draft, if not on draft day itself. Arizona, needing picks more than it needs the best possible player at the 28th position in the Open Draft, makes a deal with Orlando to drop back from 28 to 34, giving Orlando a second 1st rounder, as well as their 6th round pick, in exchange for Orlando’s 6th pick in the 2nd round and backup safety Corey White. For Orlando it is a chance to jump up 7 slots, and for Arizona, they get a proven commodity in White while only dropping back a handful of selections.

St. Louis Acquires More Picks

The Skyhawks, looking to maximize draft day value by increasing their pick total, did just that, sending fullback Jason Cabinda to the Ohio Glory in trade for the Glory’s 4th rounder. Now, that may not seem like a deal worth advertising, but what we need to acknowledge is that the Skyhawks have now accumulated a total of 5 picks between the 4th and 5th rounds, their own two picks and also Ohio’s 4th, Arizona’s 5th and Atlanta’s 5th. With that much draft capital, the Skyhawks could stand pat and get 5 mid-round players, or could package picks to improve their position, possibly leaving with 2-3 additional selections in the 3rd, possibly even the 2nd round. We have to believe that the Skyhawks are nowhere near done yet, with draft week moves still very much available to them.

Todd McShay'sTop 10 prospects—Where they could go

1-QB Kyler Murray (OU): Murray’s T-Draft rights have been locked up by LA thanks to their deal with Oklahoma. But, could this be a bluff? LA could use this position to make a deal with a team that is more desperate for a QB than they are, someone like Chicago or New Orleans, both of whom lost out in their pursuit of Ryan Nassib or Matt McGloin. Could LA simply be playing the field to acquire other positions, or, if there is legit interest in Murray, do they push for the OU quarterback and use Bradford as trade bait for the Breakers or Machine?

NFL Option: The Arizona Cardinals have the first pick in the NFL Draft, 10 days after the USFL’s Open Draft. While many believe they are not in the market for a QB, having signed UCLA’s Josh Rosen last season, Rosen did not have a particularly strong first year, and we could envision the Cardinals potentially trading Rosen and taking a shot at Murray. But, if it is between LA, with Coach Lewis, and Arizona, with a defensive minded coach in Vance Joseph at the helm, we think LA might have an advantage.

2-DE Nick Bosa (Ohio State): No doubt about this. The move by LA to acquire the first T-Draft pick from Ohio is a clear move for Bosa. Or is it? Could LA be actually looking at locking up the top two QB prospects in the same draft by getting rights to both Dwayne Haskins and Kyler Muray? Are they going to turn around and trade one or both of these picks (or players) to the highest bidder? Or are we just imagining huge conspiracies just to add drama? We honestly don’t know. There is clearly a need for edge pressure on the LA Express defense, so picking and signing Bosa would make a lot of sense, but the Haskins concept also has its intriguing possibilities.

NFL Option: Most folks have Bosa being picked either 2nd by the New York Jets, or third by the San Diego Chargers. Either of those teams could be tough competition if LA truly is looking to sign both Murray and Bosa. But, both are seen as pretty dysfunctional franchises, much like LA, so at least the Express would be in game, which likely brings it down to money, which LA now has plenty of, even with 3 very costly early draft picks.

3. DE Montez Sweat (Miss. State): Another top edge rusher who is unlikely to escape the USFL T-Draft. Orlando has his rights and having traded away perhaps the best player in league history in Calais Campbell, they need to get this right in order to avoid a fan revolt. Sweat should be the obvious pick and a major focus of Orlando’s offseason campaign. They may have to overpay him in order to avoid him going to the NFL, but that seems like something they will have to accept in order to get the player they have to have.

NFL Option: Sweat could go to the Jets with the 2nd NFL pick, as they need help at both DE and DT, but he also could drop if NFL clubs think he will be overpaid by Orlando to join them. That actually makes Orlando’s case easier, because the further Sweat drops in the NFL draft, the less that NFL team can offer (thanks to their Rookie Cap system) and the cheaper the total cost for Orlando.

4. WR D.K. Metcalf (Ole Miss): We don’t see the Breakers protecting Metcalf with their T-Draft pick, and if they were going to trade that pick, they likely would have done it by now. We think they are going for LB Devin White, which means that Metcalf makes it into the open draft. Once there, the first likely contender would be either Jacksonville with the 4th pick or St. Louis at 5. Both need to improve their receiver corps, and while Jacksonville might jump at a QB if one is available, this position would make sense for Metcalf as well.

NFL Option: We are not sure where Metcalf goes, but we doubt he escapes the Top 10. It is between him and OU’s Marquise Brown to be the first WR off the board. We could see him headed to Las Vegas at pick 4 or to New England at 5. Both need to improve their WR groups, so a back-to-back mini-run on wideouts is not out of the question.

5. OLB Josh Allen (Kentucky): While the Blitz traded away their 1st T-Draft pick to Birmingham, we are quite sure the Stallions are looking at Maryland safety Darnell Savage, which means that Allen could be available to the Blitz with their second pick. That said, they have a lot of needs that seem more pressing than an outside linebacker (even if replacing Jason Taylor is on their radar). We think Allen ends up in the Open Draft, and if that is the case, he could go to LA first overall, or he could end up at pick 7 with the Vipers.

NFL Option: Another Top 10 prospect, we think he could be taken at pick 5 by the Buccaneers or perhaps pick 8 to the Jaguars. That means that if he is picked first by LA, the Express could have an edge, but if taken by the Vipers at pick 7, there could be a real battle for him.

6. DE/OLB Rashan Gary (Michigan): Gary is a tweener, which could make him more attractive to some teams and far less attractive to others. What we do know is that the Panthers are almost certainly looking elsewhere, to other needs, so that puts Gary very likely in the Open Draft. Once there, we think the most likely option is that he is taken either with the 2nd overall pick (Tampa Bay) or with the 6th (Orlando). Here is our thinking. Tampa Bay is likely going to select Brian Burns, the more traditional DE out of FSU, but this could be a very solid option for a double down, and if both Burns and Gary like the Bandit offer, they could have one on the end and the other at linebacker. The same goes for Orlando, who could be thinking of pairing Sweat and Gary on the same side to help provide some semblance of the pass rush that Campbell provided on his own. Again, this assumes that both are signable.

NFL Option: We could see the Las Vegas Raiders going after Gary, but if they have their eyes on a wideout, then Gary could drop out of the Top 10, with Green Bay being the next team who could make use of his skills in a standard 3-4 alignment.

7. OT Jawaan Taylor (Florida): We have to admit we are a little surprised that McShay had Taylor as his top-rated OT, since we had him solidly 3rd behind Alabama’s Jonah Williams and Washington State’s Andre Dillard, but we promised to go by McShay’s ranking so here we are. The Bulls have Taylor within their protection of Gator prospects, and we think that in their quest to both attract a quality QB and give that QB a halfway decent shot at surviving the season, that they will select Taylor with their 1st or 2nd T-Draft pick.

NFL Option: No shortage of teams needing a solid LT, but will the NFL rank Taylor as McShay has or will he drop behind several other options? The further he drops, the better it is for the Bulls to negotiate with the Florida product.

8. DT Quinnen Williams (Alabama): Of all the teams in the USFL, it is most often Birmingham which finds itself having to make tough choices in the T-Draft. Between the Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers, Birmingham always has more than 3 potential 1st rounders to choose from. And while Williams is a very intriguing prospect, we don’t think Birmingham (which has only 2 picks after trading their first to Baltimore) will go for him. That puts the big DT into the Open Draft, where there will be no shortage of interest. We like Chicago at pick 8, Las Vegas at pick 10, or Washington at pick 16 to take a shot at the big man.

NFL Option: This may be the first case of an NFL team having the higher pick of the two leagues (which often gives them the negotiating advantage). Whether it is the Jets at 2 or the Buffalo Bills at 9, there is a reasonable chance that Williams comes off the board in the Top 10 in the NFL Draft, but drops into the teens in the USFL Draft.

9. QB Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State): We don’t think LA is looking to draft Haskins now that they acquired Ohio’s 1st T-Draft pick. But that does not mean they don’t use that pick to trade for someone they want and someone else opts to trade into the mix for Hopkins. We have Chicago and New Orleans still seeking QB help. One of them could make a deal to get that pick from LA. But, if not, if Haskins waits for the Open Draft, he could drop. Why? Because Chicago traded to get Washington’s first T-Draft pick, and that means they like Duke QB Daniel Jones. Could New Orleans really land a potential Top 10 pick with the 24th selection? And a QB at that?

NFL Option: Here is where the Breakers need to worry. If they get Haskins at 24, but an NFL team picks him in the first 15 picks, they almost certainly lose out on that draft pick. We just don’t see a lot of USFL teams win a battle for a player if the NFL team has more than a 5-pick advantage in placement. So, the Breakers might have to move up if they want a real shot at Haskins, because when we look at the NFL teams that are showing interest, we see the Giants and the Redskins, both in the Top 15.

10. OT Jonah Williams (Alabama): We have Williams rated higher than Taylor, but so be it. We do think this is a position of necessity for the Stallions, who would have the Bama tackle’s territorial rights, so we think they use that 2nd T-Draft pick to lock in Williams and help Cam Newton. Now, does selecting him mean they can sign him?

NFL Option: This is always tough to gauge. The USFL generally does better with their T-Draft picks than they do in their Open Draft. There is something about parlaying local college fame into pro endorsements that just helps the USFL make deals with their T-Draft picks, but, that said, if Williams is the top OT taken in the NFL Draft, which could mean New England at 4 or possibly Pittsburgh at 9, then the competition gets that much tougher for Birmingham.

Top 5 Prospects at Each Position

OK, we have looked at Todd McShay’s 10 best players and where we think they are headed this offseason, but a draft is more than 10 players, so what talent is really out there in this year’s draft pool? Here is our breakdown of the 5 highest-rated players in each major position group. How many escape the Territorial Draft to be available to all 28 teams, that is impossible to say, as is how many opt to join the NFL after both drafts have concluded.

Quarterback: 1-Kyler Murray (OU), 2-Dwayne Haskins (OSU), 3-Daniel Jones (Duke), 4-Drew Lock (Mizzou), 5-Will Grier (WV)

This is not the high-profile and deep QB pool we saw last season. We will not be seeing a lot of 1st round picks here, and it already looks like we know who the first two off the board will be, since LA and Chicago both made moves to acquire T-Draft picks from Oklahoma (Murray) and Washington (Jones). We think that Drew Lock and Dwayne Haskins could both possibly be first round picks, but the most likely scenario is that one of them drops into the 2nd round.

Running Back: 1-Josh Jacobs (Bama), 2-Miles Sanders (PSU), 3-David Montgomery (IA St), 4-Darrell Henderson (Mem), 5-Devin Singletary (FAU)

Baltimore is almost guaranteed to use the T-Draft pick they got from Birmingham in a 1-for-1 swap to select Jacobs. Beyond that this looks like a very fluid ranking, and we could see 2 or more backs go in the first round. It is more about matching style of play with offensive scheme, so if things break right, we could see a lot of backs come off the board early.

Tight End: 1-T. J. Hockenson (Iowa), 2-Noah Fant (iowa), 3-Irv Smith Jr. (Bama), 4-Drew Sample (Wash), 5-Jace Sternberger (TAMU)

So rare to see the top two players in any position coming from the same college, but that is the case with the tight end position and the Iowa Hawkeyes this year. The thing is, St. Louis, who has the rights to Iowa players, has no need for a TE, since they have Gronk firmly established as their number one. Enter Denver, who has made a deal to get their shot at either Fant or Hockenson.

Wide Receiver: 1-Marquise Brown (OU), 2-N’Keal Harry (ASU), 3-Deebo Samuel (So Car), 4-A. J. Brown (Mississ), 5-Mercole Hardman (UGA)

A lot of speed, but not a lot of polish. This year’s WR group is either pure speed receivers (Both Marquise or A.J. Brown) or elusive, quick cut receivers like Samuel. No doubt that we will see several off the list after the T-Draft, but how many are truly 1st round talents who can make an immediate impact?

Offensive Line: 1- OT Jonah Williams (Bama), 2-OG Chris Lindstrom (BC), 3-C Garrett Bradbury (NC St), 4-OT Andre Dillard (WSU), 5-OT Tytus Howard (AL St)

A solid and pretty deep pool of linemen, with a bit more at tackle than guard. The Wild Card is Howard, who is the only player on this list, and a rare 1st round talent, who is not within any team’s protected pool.

Defensive End: 1-Nick Bosa (OH St), 2-Quinnen Williams (Bama), 3-Clelin Ferril (Clemson), 4-Rashan Gary (Mich), 5-Montez Sweat (MS St)

Bosa is pretty much the consensus number one option, and LA made a deal to acquire his rights, one that was more surprising than the deal with Oklahoma. Sweat is very likely going to the Bandits in the T-Draft as well, the others, including swing DE/LB Rashan Gary, well, we think they won’t last long.

Defensive Tackle: 1-Ed Oliver (Hou), 2-Christian Wilkins (Clem), 3-Dexter Lawrence (Clem), 4-Jeffrey Simmons (MS St), 5-Jerry Tillary (NDame)

This is such a position of demand, we are likely to see several stretch picks, where 3rd round talent jumps into the early 2nd round just out of sheer necessity. Ed Oliver is a disruptor, while Wilkens and Lawrence are much better as run stuffers and space eaters.

Linebacker: 1-Devin White (LSU), 2-Josh Allen (UKy), 3-Devin Bush Jr. (Mich), 4-Jahlani Tavai (Hawaii), 5-Germaine Pratt (NC St)

We listed Gary as a DE, so that gave us room to include a very interesting prospect, Hawaii’s Tavai. At the top of the list is White and Allen, both of whom excel as sideline-to-sideline react-and-pursue linebackers.

Cornerback: 1-Deandre Baker (UGA), 2-Byron Murphy (Wash), 3-Rock Ya-Sin (Temple), 4-Sean Bunting (CMU), 5-Trayvon Mullen (Clem)

No superstar in this bunch, but a lot of players who could start strong as nickels and then move up to a starting job in a year or two. So, for immediate need, not ideal, but for building a solid secondary, yes, there is talent here.

Safety: 1-Darnell Savage (Mary), 2-Johnathan Abram (MS St), 3-Marquise Blair (Utah), 4-TaylorRapp (Wash), 5-Juan Thornhill (Uva)

One of the deeper positions in the draft. In any other year we would say that 4, maybe 5, would go in the first round. This year we could still see that, but the need for D-line seems to be taking precedence, so expect a heavy safety-filled 2nd round.

Every Team, What They Need, and Who They Might Target

Here we go, team-by-team analysis of needs, wants, and opportunities. With the T-Draft very much in play, it is so hard to just call a player a “1st round talent” because, while they may be rated according to rounds, the truth is that so much of what the USFL does is tied into the territorial draft that we always see half or more of the highest rated players already off the board for the league by the time we get to the first round of the Open Draft. This year is no exception, with Chicago, Baltimore, Birmingham, Denver, and Los Angeles (twice!!) making moves to snag a T-Draft pick from another club. It is no guarantee, after all, plenty of top picks, including T-Draft picks, head to the NFL instead, but as we look through each team’s situation, the hope is always that the players who every team falls in love with feels that love and signs on for spring football.

LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (3-13)

Roster Needs: DE, LB, DT, TE, WR

T-Draft Outlook: Once again we expect LA’s entire T-Draft to focus on USC players, their historical pipeline. Of course, the big story is the trade that gave them Oklahoma’s 1st T-Draft pick, a move that might very well indicate that they are going for Kyler Murray, hoping to build for next year perhaps, or is Marvin Lewis just not interested in having Sam Bradford as his QB1? But, aside from that pick, what could LA pick up from their own T-Draft selections? Honestly, the USC pool is not as strong as in past years, though we think that either DT Chuma Edogo or LB Cameron Smith would make sense for the Express.

Possible Target Player: Assuming that LA does go for Murray with the T-Draft pick they obtained from Oklahoma, what do they do with the 1st overall? Our guess is DE, so it is a question of who escapes the T-Draft and is available. Could Nick Bosa or Clenlin Ferrell be available? If so, then LA should absolutely address that need with the first overall pick.

TAMPA BAY BANDITS (3-13)

Roster Needs: DE, DT, OT, OG, CB

T-Draft Outlook: The Bandits can get exactly what they need in Florida State DE Brian Burns. He fills an immediate need after the departure of Jerry Hughes. Beyond that, it is a mixed bag. If they go for need positions there is FSU DT Demarcus Christmas and South Carolina OT Dennis Daley, but if they go for some splash, how about South Carolina wideout Deebo Samuel?

Possible Target Player: If Alabama DT Quinnen Williams is in the pool, he has to be the Bandit pick. If not, then potentially guard Chris Lindstrom from BC or OT Dexter Lawrence from Clemson.

DALLAS ROUGHNECKS (3-13)

Roster Needs: OT, HB, DE, QB, FB

T-Draft Outlook: The only 1st round talent in Dallas’s T-Draft pool is DE L. j. Collier form TCU, but we could see them look at another DE, Texas’s Charles Omenihu. With OT being a major need as well, we think they will protect Longhorn tackle Calvin Anderson.

Possible Target Player: Dallas probably should focus on that OT position, which would mean hoping that Alabama’s Jonah Williams is available. But there is a shot that they go rogue and go for a QB who can sit behind Josh Freeman for a year. Haskins? Daniel Jones? Just guessing at what may or may not be a priority for the Roughnecks.

JACKSONVILLE BULLS (4-12)

Roster Needs: QB, WR, SS, C, HB, OT

T-Draft Outlook: The Bulls won’t find their future franchise QB in the T-Draft, but they could get some help at safety with Florida’s C. J. Gardner-Johnson, orat OT with another Gator, Jawaan Taylor. We are also not sure they don’t BPA and lock in DE Clelin Ferrell even if DE is not a priority.

Possible Target Player: If LA does not go for Murray, we could see Jacksonville diving on him, but that seems an unlikely scenario. So, the next best option may well be Haskins, but that almost guarantees that Teddy Bridgewater is the starter for 2019.

ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS (5-11)

Roster Needs: WR. FS. OG, HB, DT

T-Draft Outlook: The Skyhawks have traded away their 1st T-Draft pick, which means that either T. J. Hockenson or Noah Fant are off the table. Thing is, St. Louis has Gronk, so they really are not in the TE hunt. They also are unlikely to protect QB Drew Lock. They could take a look at Iowa State HB David Montgomery, but a more certain bet is WR Hakeem Butler, another Cyclone, but one in a position with greater need.

Possible Target Player: This may be a bit early to go for a safety, with Maryland’s Darnell Savage and Mississippi State’s Johnathan Abram as the top rated players, both falling later in the first round in most mock drafts. If they want to go WR here, the best option (again assuming he clears the T-Draft) is likely OU’s Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.

ORLANDO RENEGADES (6-10)

Roster Needs: DE, LB, CB, HB, WR

T-Draft Outlook: A lot of 1st round talent out of Mississippi State this year. After the Calais Campbell trade, the obvious pick is DE Montez Sweat, but safety Johnathan Abram and even DT Jeffery Simmons are also solid options.

Possible Target Player: A lot depends on how confident Orlando is about Sweat. If they are not sure, they could double down by looking at Clemson DE Clelin Ferrell or FSU’s Brian Burns. If they like what they are hearing from Sweat and his people, they could go LB, which could be Devin White from LSU or Josh Allen from Kentucky.

BALTIMORE BLITZ (6-10)

Roster Needs: HB, SS, WR, CB, TE

T-Draft Outlook: The deal with the Stallions almost certainly means that Baltimore wants to lock up an RB1 and they want that RB1 to be Josh Jacobs. They did a 1-for-1 swap of T-Draft picks with the Stallions, and we think that means Birmingham is going for safety Darnell Savage, the only true 1st round talent in Baltimore’s pool. With their other 2 picks, we think Baltimore also goes safety, jumping on Delaware’s Nasir Adderley, though they could also look at CB with Kentucky’s Lonnie Johnson Jr.

Possible Target Player: If the Blitz snag their RB1 and their safety through the T-Draft, then we see this pick definitely being a slot receiver. Within that group, the best option is likely to be either Arizona State’s N’Keal Harry or South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel.

CHICAGO MACHINE (7-9)

Roster Needs: QB, DT, OG, OT, DE

T-Draft Outlook: Chicago made the deal with Washington to get a shot at QB Daniel Jones, but with their own T-Draft picks we think they need to improve the line in front of him. That means OT Max Scharping from Northern Illinois and/or guard Michael Deiter from Wisconsin.

Possible Target Player: If Chicago can address QB, OT, and OG in the T-Draft (and that is a big if), then we think they look hard at the DT pool in the Open Draft. At the top of that pool is Quinnen Williams from Alabama, but he could well be gone, so up next is either Ed Oliver from the U. of Houston or Christian Wilkins from Clemson.

BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (7-9)

Roster Needs: DE, FS, DT, LB, CB

T-Draft Outlook: The deal with Baltimore gives the Stallions the chance to draft the highest rated safety in the pool, Darnell Savage from Maryland. It also costs them their 1st T-Draft pick, but with Baltimore likely taking Josh Jacobs, all those quality Alabama front line folks will be there, including DT Quinnen Williams or OT Jonah Williams. They may also use a pick towards their CB group with Auburn’s Jamel Dean as a good candidate.

Possible Target Player: If one of the top rated DE’s is still on the board, we think Birmingham goes there, but if not, they could choose to address the LB position with Devin Bush, Josh Allen, or Michigan’s Rashan Gary.

LAS VEGAS VIPERS (7-9)

Roster Needs: DT, LB, WR, OG, DE

T-Draft Outlook: Vegas is getting used to a pretty slim T-Draft pool. This year’s best prospect is not in a position of need, safety Marquise Blair, but they do like the two LBs in the pool, Utah’s Cody Barton and BYU’s Sione Takitaki.

Possible Target Player: Defensive tackle and wide receiver are the two big needs. We think they go wideout if either Marquise Brown or A. J. Brown of Ole Miss is here. If not, then best DT available seems the most likely 1st round option.

OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS (7-9)

Roster Needs: CB, SS, LB, HB, OG

T-Draft Outlook: The Outlaws already traded their 1st pick to LA, presumably for QB Kyler Murray. They very well could trade the 2nd pick if someone is eager to select WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Neither QB nor WR is really a high priority pick. We think if they keep only 1 of their 3 picks, they will use that to get some added “shimmy” in their run game, and that means OK State’s Justice Hill.

Possible Target Player: Oklahoma could be the first team to look at the CB position, and if they do, they will almost certainly look at Georgia’s Deandre Baker and Washington’s Byron Murphy, the two 1st round graded corners.

PHILADELPHIA STARS (8-8)

Roster Needs: FS, CB, DT, SS,WR

T-Draft Outlook: Not a bad pool of players, but few who align with the Stars’ primary needs. Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin could be an option, as could Penn State CB Amani Oruwariye, but no real help at safety or DT in this pool.

Possible Target Player: Free safety is the biggest need, and the best option there is Utah’s Marquise Blaire, who Philly could get in the 2nd round. We could see the Stars draft down to get more picks, or, if they stick, they could go for the less necessary, but still helpful strong safety position with either Johnathan Abram or Taylor Rapp from Washington.

SEATTLE DRAGONS (8-8)

Roster Needs: DE, LB, SS, OT, HB

T-Draft Outlook: OT Andre Dillard of Washington State seems the obvious pick, though we also like Washington’s Kaleb McGary in the same position. The Dragons could also take a 3rd pick shot at LB Ben Buur-Kirven, another Huskie with a lot of potential.

Possible Target Player: The DE pool is likely to be quite a bit thinner by this point in the draft, but we still think Seattle prioritizes the position. How about either TCU’s L. J. Collier or BC’s Zach Allen here?

PITTSBURGH MAULERS (8-8)

Roster Needs: DE, TE, LB, CB, WR

T-Draft Outlook: If we assume that the Maulers pass on West Virginia QB Will Grier, which seems likely, then the choice that makes the most sense is WR Gary Jennings Jr, also a Mountaineer. We could also see them adding some LB depth with either fellow Mountaineer David Long Jr. or Akron’s Ulysses Gilbert III.

Possible Target Player: We are back to that DE group again, but if it is looking pretty picked over, it seems almost certain that one of the two Iowa tight ends will be here. So, will it be Hockenson or Fant?

DENVER GOLD (9-7)

Roster Needs: TE, DT, FS, LB, CB

T-Draft Outlook: Denver did not want to wait and hope that their preferred tight end would be available in the Open Draft, so they cut a deal with the Skyhawks and can now scout both Fant and Hockenson, choosing their favorite. Then, with their own picks, look for them to address the safety position, either with Wyoming’s Marcus Epps or Andrew Wingard, the former being the higher rated prospect, but the latter being perhaps a better fit at free safety for the Gold.

Possible Target Player: If the Gold feel good at TE and safety after the T-Draft, then we think they go DT here, but if not, then they could draft a 2nd player at either position to double down on a key need. But, let’s assume they are looking for a DT (which means Suh did not resign), our pick for the Gold would be Houston’s Ed Oliver, assuming he is available.

WASHINGTON FEDERALS (9-7)

Roster Needs: DT, QB, OT, WR, LB

T-Draft Outlook: The only truly coveted player in the Feds’ pool (Virginia, Va Tech, Duke) was QB Daniel Jones, who the Feds essentially traded to Chicago by sending the Machine their 1st pick. So, what is left worth picking in the T-Draft? How about a developmental project at WR in Virginia’s Olamide Zaccheaus? Maybe some linebacker depth with Duke’s Joe Giles-Harris?

Possible Target Player: There are just not enough D-linemen in this draft to satisfy all the demand, and by the time Washington picks, we don’t see much 1st round talent being left on the board. So, do they go wideout, linebacker or BPA with this pick? How about a curveball, picking up the backup QB that Jones could have been (expensive though), which could be Will Grier or Drew Lock.

PORTLAND STAGS (9-7)

Roster Needs: LB, WR, OT, C, SS

T-Draft Outlook: A very shallow pool for the Stags, though they do have a halfway decent option at safety with Oregon’s Ugo Amadi, and maybe some depth at LB with Justin Hollins, another Duck.

Possible Target Player: Linebacker has not been a high-priority need for many teams ahead of the Stags, so there could be a steal left on the board. Could it be Devin White from LSU? Not as likely, but perhaps Josh Allen from Kentucky or Rashan Gary from Michigan.

CHARLOTTE MONARCHS (9-7)

Roster Needs: FS, LB, DE, TE, HB

T-Draft Outlook: With LB being a priority, we think Charlotte jumps on NC State’s Germaine Pratt. We also think they should at least consider center Garrett Bradbury, even if O-Line is not a current need area.

Possible Target Player: We think Charlotte will be practical and go BPA from any of the five positions listed. Yes, they signed Latavius Murray, but HB still has to be on the list, especially if Miles Sanders from Penn State is still on the board, which we think is very possible.

MICHIGAN PANTHERS (9-7)

Roster Needs: FS, DE, QB, HB, LB

T-Draft Outlook: Either Devin Bush or Rashan Gary, and maybe both, could and should be T-Draft picks for the Panthers. They could also look at the CB position, with 3 prospects there from either the Wolverines or the Spartans.

Possible Target Player: As much as there is immediate need for the defense, if either Drew Lock or Dwayne Haskins is on the board here, we could see the Panthers building behind Kirk Cousins.

MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (11-5)

Roster Needs: CB, DE, WR, LB, OG

T-Draft Outlook: The Showboats catch a break as their position of top need, CB, has a top prospect waiting for them in Vandy’s Joejuan Williams. After that pick, the Boats could go a lot of directions, from a U. of Memphis HB (Darrell Henderson or Tony Pollard) to guard Hjailte Froholdt from Arkansas.

Possible Target Player: Unless they use a double down strategy, we think Memphis will see cornerback as solid and will move on to address needs at the WR position. If they see N’Keal Harry here, they almost certainly go for him. If not, then it could be A. J. Brown or Georgia’s Mecole Hardman.

SAN DIEGO THUNDER (10-6)

Roster Needs: DT, OT, TE, HB, FB

T-Draft Outlook: After a couple of decent years from UCLA, this year the Thunder don’t get much. They will likely take a flier on TE Caleb Wilson, but not as their only TE pick. They could also look at SDSU’s Kahale Warring here and look for Noah Fant in the Open Draft.

Possible Target Player: Fant would be a good selection this late in the round, but we could also see the Thunder go for someone at either OT or DT since their T-Draft just does not help them there.

OHIO GLORY (10-6)

Roster Needs: OT, LB, DE, TE, CB

T-Draft Outlook: Before the trade with LA we thought for sure that the Glory were going to woo Buckeye DE Nick Bosa hard, but the Express made another big deal and now it looks like they will be wooing the consensus best edge rusher in the draft. So, what does Ohio do with their two remaining picks? Well, there are three solid wideouts in their pool, and while it is not a listed priority, you can never have enough good ones. They have Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin from Ohio State, but also Toledo’s Diontae Johnson to consider.

Possible Target Player: We think the Glory look at the two Wolverine LBs and hope one slides this far. Either Gary or Bush would be a help to Ohio, even if fans may balk at rooting for a former Big Blue player.

ATLANTA FIRE (10-6)

Roster Needs: OT, OG, DT, QB

T-Draft Outlook: A list of linemen needed and the best T-Draft prospects are all small guys like WRs and CBs. We guess they will select CB Deandre Baker and WR Mecole Hardman, but not so much out of need as out of respect for their draft grades.

Possible Target Player: No way Quinnen Williams get shere, and very likely Jonah Williams is also off the table, so Atlanta could be looking at Washington State’s Andre Dillard or unprotected Alabama State OT Tytus Howard.

NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (12-4)

Roster Needs: SS, TE, HB, OG, CB

T-Draft Outlook: LB is not a priority position, but LSU’s Devin White could be special, so we think the Breakers and former LB Lamar Lathon cannot pass the chance up. Beyond White, perhaps WR, with A. J. Brown and DK Metcalf both out of Ole Miss. They do need a tight end and another Rebel could be their answer, Ole Miss’s Dawson Knox.

Possible Target Player: If there is a 1st round graded safety on the board, that Is where we think the Breakers will go, though they could take a shot at a halfback as well, especially if they are serious about adding lightning to Leonard Fournette’s thunder.

NEW JERSEY GENERALS (9-6-1)

Roster Needs: TE, OG, WR, QB, FB

T-Draft Outlook: The Generals find a match as BC guard Chris Lindstrom fits in nicely in a position of need. Beyond Lindstrom, there are no obvious choices.

Possible Target Player: We think New Jersey could be another club looking long and hard at QBs like Haskins, Lock, or Grier. Will they bite in the first round? Or do they need to just build more around Nick Foles?

OAKLAND INVADERS (11-5)

Roster Needs: OT, DT, HB, LB, CB

T-Draft Outlook: We think one of the reasons the Invaders let Knile Davis go is because they really like Stanford’s Bryce Love, a very likely T-Draft pick. They could also take a long look at TE Josh Oliver from San Jose State or WR J. J. Arcega-Whiteside from the Cardinal.

Possible Target Player: Either O-line or D-line is the need, so whichever has the highest rated prospect still available at pick 26 is the likely candidate.

ARIZONA WRANGLERS (12-3-1)

Roster Needs: DT, OG, CB, WR, OT

T-Draft Outlook: The obvious pick for the Wranglers is ASU wideout N’Keal Harry, who can help them restock their WR room (along with Victor Cruz, of course). They also could look at DT Rebekk Wren, though we think they will also look for a higher-rated DT in the Open Draft.

Possible Target Player: The Wranglers have a lot of needs, but also a lot of cap space. We think that makes them a prime candidate to drop back through trade, move out of the late 1st round and get some extra picks later in the draft. If they do stay put, then someone like Notre Dame DT Jerry Tillery or Georgia CB Deandre Baker could be a good option here.

HOUSTON GAMBLERS (12-4)

Roster Needs: DT, HB, WR, FS, OT

T-Draft Outlook: Things are just going the Gamblers’ way. Yes, Albert Haynesworth will be very hard to replace, but there is Cougar DT Ed Oliver just sitting there, ready to select. Oliver is a disruptive playmaker in the middle, just as Haynesworth was.

Possible Target Player: Houston could again get lucky and find a quality halfback with the final pick in the first round. It is not going to be Josh Jacobs, and probably not David Montgomery either, but it could be Miles Sanders, Darrell Henderson, or Devin Singletary, all pretty solid options at pick 28.

NFL Free Agent Pool Has Plenty of Enticing Options for USFL Clubs

As many of you probably already know, this past September the NFL raked in a bumper crop of USFL talent during the shared transfer window between the two leagues. With a heavy emphasis on defensive talent, the NFL signed over 40 USFL players, including several All-USFL caliber players like CB Patrick Robinson, DE Mario Williams, LB Chase Blackburn, TE Kellen Davis, LB James Laurinaitis, OT Andrew Whitworth, and DT Haloti Ngata. Now, with the NFL season recently completed, the pools are switched, with few USFL players still unsigned, but a large player pool of NFL talent who will be eligible to jump to the USFL if they remain unsigned by February 4th. We looked over the full Free Agent list from the 32 NFL clubs and picked our favorite 20 potential free agents for the USFL to target. Here is our list of the 20 players who deserve serious wooing this February, along with the age of each, as that is often a factor in teams’ decisions to go after a player.

20- HB Bilal Powell (30)

A big bruising back who could be a good short yardage and red zone option.

19- WR Devin Funchess (24)

A big body receiver at 6’4”, Funchess spent 4 years in Carolina, with his best stats in 2017.

18- OG Ron Leary (29)

A veteran guard with good feet and the ability to pull. Spent 6 seasons with Dallas.

17- QB Geno Smith (28)

After 4 years with the Jets, Smith played 1 season with the Giants and appeared in 5 games for the Chargers this year. Smith would be a bit of a reclamation project, since losing confidence in New York.

16- LB Jamie Collins (29)

Started his career in New England and started 16 games for the Browns in 2016, with 104 combined tackles, a very good option for a team looking for a run-stuffing backer.

15- S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (26)

Still only 26 after playing 5 years in Green Bay, Clinton-Dix, is good in coverage, and had 93 tackles in 2018, so he is not afraid to come up and lay the wood on a back.

14- HB Chris Thompson (28)

A solid dual-threat back, Thompson won’t be a lead back, but can contribute to both the run and passing game. In 2018, with Washington, he had 41 receptions as a 3rd down option.

13- CB Ronald Darby (24)

After 2 years in Buffalo, Darby went to Philadelphia, where he started 11 games for the Eagles. Not much of a ball hawk, Darby is best in zone coverage.

12- HB Tevin Coleman (25)

With over 800 yards rushing and 7 combined TDs, Coleman is looking for a payday and may well be open to a USFL deal to get one.

11- LB Shaq Barrett (26)

A bit of a disappointment in that he saw very little action in Denver, Barrett is still considered an athletic option on the outside. Will a USFL team give him more opportunities to earn a starting job?

10- QB Blake Bortles (27)

Bortles put up some big numbers in Jacksonville, including a 4,000-yard season in 2015. At 27, he still has plenty of spring left in him if a team is willing to take a shot on his arm talent.

9- DE Bud Dupree (25)

Dupree could be a steal, from the Steelers. He became a full-time starter in 2017, and in 2 seasons he has 110 tackles and 30 sacks. Those are numbers that should make him a very coveted target indeed.

8- LB Za’Darius Smith (26)

Another young pass rusher, Smith only started 12 games in the past two seasons in Baltimore but produced 12 sacks in those 12 games. Many expect he can do a lot more if he shifts from DE to OLB.

7- TE Austin Hooper (24)

Highly coveted coming out of college, Hooper’s 3 years in Atlanta have shown why, jumping from 27 receptions as a rookie to 65 in 2017 and 88 in 2018. He could be the answer for a team looking to add a wrinkle to their passing game.

6- LB Preston Brown (26)

Brown started nearly every game for Buffalo from 2014-2017, but in Cincinnati an injury held him to only 7 appearances this past season. When healthy, Brown produced 4 straight 100-tackle seasons, including 144 combined tackles for the Bills in 2017.

5- HB Austin Ekeler (23)

A rare case of a player on a very short initial deal, Ekeler has played only 2 seasons in the NFL, but is now a free agent. In his two years in San Diego, he spent most of his snaps as a receiver, where he excels, but has also shown a willingness and talent for tenacious inside runs.

4- QB Ryan Tannehill (30)

After 6 seasons in Miami, the Dolphins are going in another direction, allowing their 6-year starter to walk in Free Agency. Tannehill has had mixed results as a starter, but with two 4,000-yard seasons and 3 seasons with 20+ touchdowns, he will be an attractive option for any team that has not solved their QB situation in the draft.

3- S Landon Collins (24)

A young safety who is not afraid to come up and play inside the box, Collins had 100+ tackles in each of his first 3 seasons and would have been there again had he not missed 4 games last year.

2- DE Jadeveon Clowney (25)

Clowney can play OLB in a 3-4 or DE in a 4-3, and in both cases can be a disruptive player. He had 9.5 sacks in 2017, 9 in 2018, and we think he can do even better with the right DT inside him. Speed, aggression and good tackling are all qualities he would bring to a team.

1= WR A. J. Green (30)

The best of a pretty good WR group that also includes Funchess, Robby Anderson, Keenan Cole, Tim Patrick, and Quincy Enunwa. Green is a veteran at 30, and with six 1,000-yard seasons behind him, he is no stranger to being a primary target.

USFL Expansion Committee Names 3 Finalists for 30th Franchise

The report is out, the finalists set, and the vote will be happening sometime in the next month as the list of 7 expansion groups has been cut to three finalists. The Expansion Committee, citing stadium arrangements, market demographics, alignment questions, and concerns expressed by several current USFL ownership groups about regional competition have removed 4 of the 7 teams, leaving three bids prepared to present their cases in person at the early February league meetings in New York, with deliberation to follow and a planned national announcement in late March.

But which cities will be vying for a franchise? It will be the East Coast vs. the Midwest as the three remaining bids represent the Boston metro area, the Twin Cities, and, in a surprising underdog bid, the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. We will highlight each of the bids, but first, let’s walk through the issues that held back the other four bidding groups.

We start in Miami, which not only had stadium issues, a lease agreement that would make the club the third tenant in Hard Rock Stadium, and very much third in the pecking order behind the NFL Dolphins and the University of Miami Hurricanes. That situation, with significant concerns about stadium scheduling as well as revenue stream, combined with significant opposition not only from expected sources like the 3 current Florida teams (Bandits, Bulls, and Renegades) but also from several other franchises citing health and safety concerns about mid-summer games in the heat of South Florida. Several clubs presented formal statements to the committee regarding scheduling games in Miami and concerns for player safety. That mix of issues doomed the Miami bid despite a solid ownership group.

Very different concerns in Kansas City, where the tethering of the bid to Arrowhead Stadium, with few alternative sites available, proved to be a bigger obstacle than the bid group anticipated. Questions about potential clashes between the new franchise and the NFL Chiefs, as well as concerns about the age of the facility and the potential for needed renovation in the short term put Kansas City at a disadvantage over the two other Midwestern bids, both of whom made strong cases for regional rivalry potential while having better stadium deals in place.

For Hartford the issue was market size. There was significant skepticism that the team could draw from both Boston and New York as their proposal claimed. A Boston Globe poll taken during November seemed to indicate that for most Boston football fans, a trip to Hartford was a deal breaker. That, combined with significant opposition mounted by the ownership of the New Jersey Generals, as well as the relatively low attendance capacity of UConn’s Rentschler Field were enough to push Hartford beneath both Gillette Stadium bidding groups.

And so, the two Boston groups battled each other. The market was a clear favorite of many on the committee, not surprising for the 11th largest metro area in the nation. And while there were concerns that Boston be granted a 3rd USFL franchise, the ability to obtain a lease for Gillette Stadium would remove that concern. Both the Breakers and Cannons had solid fan support, but their stadium situations were untenable. With the New England Patriots in opposition of adding a USFL team to Gillette Stadium’s schedule, the options for Boston were very limited. But, with changes in the stadium management, and with the recent revelations of a potential scandal involving Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft removing his clout from the NFL pushback, it came down to which of the two bidding groups could get the deal with Gillette Stadium.

The winner? New England Football Group, who emerged in late December with the best possible Christmas present, a signed agreement for an 8-year lease should the USFL select the greater Boston area for its 30th franchise. With that deal in hand, the investment group headed by Robert Grant Jr. CEO and founder of Granite Telecom, and investor Bill Alfond were able to pull ahead of Boston 2020, despite the presence of former governor Deval Patrick in the Boston 2020 group. Without the stadium deal, the Boston 2020 group simply did not have the one key piece that could provide them with an upper hand. And while it is rumored that both Patrick and Boston 2020 minority owner and USFL celebrity Doug Flutie have been in talks to join the NEFG group if they earn the franchise bid. They would join former Celtic Kevin McHale and former footballers Steve Grogan and Tiki Barber if they did.

So, Boston is in, in the form of the New England Football Group. They will be up against two midwestern markets, ready to join the Central Division if they can win the favor of the league’s 28 current owners. The favorite in the group has to be the Twin Cities Football Group, representing the state of Minnesota. The Minnesota group is rumored to have received the most votes within the committee vote, buoyed by their agreement with both the NFL Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority to call U.S. Bank Stadium home. The 66,000-seat convertible stadium would allow the Twin City franchise to adapt to changing weather conditions in the Upper Midwest and could be seen as a future Summer Bowl site.

The third finalist is perhaps the most unexpected, having joined the bidding process well after most other groups had sent in their proposals, but the Hoosier Football Group, headed by Carl Cook (medical supplies) and Bruce White (hotels), made an effective case. They had in hand a solid 7-year contract to play games at the Lucas Oil Stadium, a retractable roof dome in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. They also had favorable support from both city and state officials, hoping to add a second tenant to the facility and a third “big league” franchise to the city. The Hoosier group also made clear that they were well-positioned for immediate rivalries, with Indiana bordering 3 current franchise states, Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois. The case was made that by adding the Hoosier State, the Central Division would see some of the biggest team-to-team engagement by fans, with followers of the Panthers, Glory, and Machine easily able to attend games in Indianapolis.

And with that we have our three final bids. Just one last detail to reveal before the owners meet and the vote is taken. In a media exclusive, we here at This is the USFL have been given exclusive rights to reveal the identities proposed for each of the three finalists. One of these three teams will be joining the USFL in just over 2 years, taking the field as the USFL’s 30th franchise. Which do you think will have the edge?

The Hoosier Football Group has chosen a mythical firebird as the identity of their new team. Clearly associated with the auto industry, the famed Pontiac Firebird featured in 80’s pop culture (Smokey & the Bandit, Knight Rider, and the Rockford Files) but also with popular fantasy “universes” like those of Harry Potter. The logo features an orange firebird rising and spreading its wings, tipped in “ember grey”. The helmet will be white with a grey facemask. Team colors will include the primary deep orange, a secondary lighter orange, and the dark grey “ember”, a unique combo for the league to be sure.

The NEFG unveiled a design and name that harken back to the early days of pro football when the Providence Steamroller had a short-lived NFL existence. The new Steamrollers will feature black, “asphalt grey”, and bright orange as their colors, a clear departure from the usual red, white and blue so common among Boston sports. Their logo features a football player acting as a human steamroller, flattening everything in his path. The helmet, will be asphalt grey with a wraparound stripe that extends from beneath the steamroller logo.

An identity that evokes the famous Iron Ranges of northern Minnesota, the Iron celebrate the industrial and mining history of the state, while providing a tough image of hardened metal as their primary identifier. The logo is a football depicted in two tones of grey/silver and featuring a beveled “M” at the center, surrounded by sunken heptagonal rivets. The helmet is black, with the primary logo on either side and a center stripe featuring the two grey tones. The Iron would be the first team in the USFL to use a purely black-grey tone design, something akin to the NFL Raiders, though featuring 2 different tones of grey.

There you have it, three bids left, 28 owners to vote on the winner, and very soon a new USFL franchise ready to join the San Antonio Gunslingers as the newest franchises in a growing USFL. The vote will happen in February, the results published in March, and we will be here for it.

The finalists are here, and once again you will get a chance to vote for your favorite. A new poll is available right here: https://form.jotform.com/251808278196064 The survey will stay open through the publication of our 2019 season Week 2 article, and the winner will be revealed, along with a full uniform set, in the Week 3 recap. This is a longer voting period, but in the end only 1 team will be selected. But, if you want to see some of the teams that did not make the cut, beginning with the 4 eliminated bids, check out the Concept message boards at Chris Creamer's SportsLogos site. I will be revealing all the eliminated proposals ahead of the final announcement of the league's 30th franchise.

We are back in just over a month with our 2019 USFL Season Preview. So, what can you expect? Well, we will include a full draft & rookie signing review, a breakdown of the final free agency moves, including the NFL players headed to spring football, and a look ahead at all 28 teams, with our divisional analysis, team breakdowns, stars to keep an eye on, a look at the 2019 schedule of games, and our picks for rookies who could have immediate impact. It is going to have everything you need to prepare for the 2019 season, whether you are a fantasy player, a gambler, or just a passionate fan of your team. The two-part preview will be out in early March, just in time to help you get pumped up for the upcoming season.