2020-21 USFL Offseason Report #2

Hi all, a change of plans from my last message about timing. Things got crazy just before I was ready to travel, so I am going to have to delay publication of the 2021 Season Preview. We will take a short break after this article, with the 2021 Season Preview now coming out on Dec. 5 and Week 1 on the 9th. Sorry for the gap, but life sometimes gets in the way. I promise we will be back in December. Between now and then, Happy Thanksgiving and all the football happening these two weeks.

February 7, 2021

Here we are, six days before the NFL’s big day, but we are not here to talk about the Chiefs and the Packers in a Super Bowl I rematch. We are here to talk about the USFL, because camps open up next week, and rosters will be set soon after that, and on March 28 the USFL will be back, with Jacksonville & Tampa Bay kicking us off on Friday Night Lights. Before that we need to see how the USFL Draft pans out, which players shift to the spring, which stay in the fall, and, of course, the NFL-USFL transfer window. We start with that as our big story as USFL players report to camp. Who might be joining them, and which USFL players are still without a deal as they await a new set of bidders.

NFL-USFL Transfer Window Could Be Pure Chaos

Get those seatbelts buckled, folks, we could be in for a wild ride. With no fall transfer window and a shortened USFL offseason thanks to the Covid-19 delay to the 2020 season, we have had free agency period like none other, with players holding out on decisions until the NFL can counter-offer in February, which leaves huge holes all across USFL rosters and a lot of uncertainty as most teams don’t even bring 60 players into camp. So many key positions still unfilled on USFL rosters, so much potential for defections to the NFL and quite possibly a huge NFL influx into the USFL as well.

Let’s start with the unsigned USFL stars. As we look at the opening of camps this week, the number of unsigned free agents is truly staggering. Players, and agents, let’s be honest, have opted to play coy and see if the NFL might cause offers to spike and deals to exceed expectations. So, who is left unsigned? It’s a cornucopia of USFL talent, and it certainly has teams nervous. Here is our list of 20 players that the spring league would love to get signed, but simply has had no movement on in weeks.

1—CB Brandon Carr (DAL)                    11—LB Odell Thurman (MGN)

2—DE Justin Tuck (MGN)                    12— LB Nathan Triplett (MEM)

3— HB Ryan Williams (SD)                      13—HB Kerwynn Williams (NE)

4—OG Brandon Brooks (NE)                 14— DE Robert Ayers (JAX)  

5—LB Patrick Willis (ATL)                    15— LB Courtney Upshaw (CHI)

6—WR Stevie Johnson (STL)              16— CB Syd’Quan Thompson(OHI) 

7— DE Olivier Vernon (BAL)                     17— CB Sam Shields (NE)

8— DT Namukong Suh (POR)              18— LB Pat Angerer (HOU)

9—DT Dan Williams (MEM)                    19-- WR Arrelious Benn (LV)

10—FS David Bruton (SAN)                     20-- OT Roger Saffold (OKL)

But, as odd as it is to have this much USFL talent unsigned as February begins, we don’t think this will be a one-way street of the league’s talent headed to the NFL, because, as is far more common, the NFL free agent pool in February is also quite sizeable, and this year there is no shortage of talent looking to compare deals from both leagues and snag the best possible contract and playing situation. With only 2 teams left in action for the Fall league, we know already what the pool will look like, and, just like the USFL pool, there is plenty of top tier talent that will be available when the Transfer Window opens in just under 3 weeks. Here, in contrast to our USFL list, is our compilation of the Top 20 NFL players likely to be available as free agents.

1—HB James Conner (Steelers)             11— DT Michael Brockers (Rams)

2—QB Carson Wentz (Eagles)              12— S Jaquiski Tart (49ers)

3—DE J. J. Watt (Oilers)                     13— QB Gardner Minshew (Jaguars)

4—CB Jimmy Smith (Ravens)                   14— CB Ronald Darby (Eagles)

5—HB Melvin Gordon (Chargers)         15— DT Leonard Williams (Giants)

6—OT Trent Williams (49ers)                   16— WR T. Y. Hilton (Colts)

7—QB Jameis Winston (Saints)               17— QB Philip Rivers (Colts)

8—S Marcus Maye (Jets)                         18— OT Matt Feller (Steelers)

9—WR Marvin Jones (Lions)                19— LB Mychal Kendricks (Seahawks)

10—HB Chris Carson (Seahawks)        20—OG Xavier Su’a-Filo (Cowboys)

That is a pool that certainly will draw attention from USFL clubs, especially if their success in signing rookies from the recent draft is not aligned with team needs. Looking across the USFL, we certainly can see some good matches that make sense to us. And, since we are in speculation mode awaiting both the rash of USFL and NFL rookie signings and the opening of the transfer window, let’s play matchmaker, with 6 NFL signings we would love to see for the USFL.

QB Carson Wentz (Eagles) to the Philadelphia Stars

Look, we know the Stars are really hopeful to land BYU’s Zach Wilson after he slipped into the Open Draft. It makes sense, but if Wilson heads to the NFL, the best option for the Stars to actually get a QB to start the season would be to land the former Eagle. Wentz would be a good fit, even if some Eagle fans might balk at backing their former starter with the cross-season rival Stars.

HB James Conner (Steelers) to the Orlando Renegades

We just don’t see a player on Orlando’s roster who should be a starter, and while they did add 2 backs late in the draft, they need something a bit more secure. Conner is the best back available (with Gordon close behind), so why not make a move to bring in a proven commodity?

DE J.J. Watt (Oilers) to the Houston Gamblers

We know, we tend to get excited by the idea of players staying in the same town from NFL to USFL, but Watt to the Gamblers just makes sense. Houston lost Dante Fowler to free agency (Stallions), and while they are hoping to sign local T-Draft choice Payton Turner of the U. of Houston, nabbing Watt, who is wildly popular in Houston, seems an easy layup to get fans excited.

OT Trent Williams (49ers) to the Pittsburgh Maulers

The Maulers need veteran leadership on the line, and while Williams is likely only a 1-2 year solution, he could help mentor young linemen like Northwestern rookie Rashawn Taylor (still unsigned).

QB Gardner Minshew (Jaguars) to the Memphis Showboats

It’s the mullet. We see the mullet and we just think that this guy needs to be in Memphis, where his personal style can truly be appreciated. Sure, Memphis has a secure starter in Paxton Lynch, but with Fitzpatrick retiring, adding a colorful character like Minshew to the QB room would be a marketing bonanza even if he does not see the field that often.

HB Chris Carson (Seahawks) to the Portland Stags

While we are stunned the Seahawks did not lock up Carson’s services, it is such a perfect fit for him to stay in the PNW by jumping to the Stags. He could split carries with Doug Martin this year and then take over in his 2^nd year. He knows how to play in the slop of Seattle rain, so Portland would be a perfect next step. Make it happen, Stags, we want to see Carson carving up defenses in the spring this year.

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St. Louis and New Jersey Stay Patient & Get Their Men

It was not a speedy process, and it certainly made both Skyhawk and General fans a bit anxious this holiday season, but it seemed clear that both USFL clubs had a specific target in mind as they scouted the 2020 NFL season. And while they had to wait through some playoff games as well, both eventually got their chance to interview their targeted NFL coach and both made their pitches convincing, bringing their top choice to town and getting them to sign on the dotted line. So, who are the last two coaches to join their teams this year? Glad you asked.

St. Louis wanted an offensive innovator, and they think they got one in Seattle Seahawk OC Brian Schottenheimer. After stints with the NFL Chargers and Jets, Schottenheimer won a national title at Georgia before returning to the pro game with Indianapolis and then Seattle. His time in Indy produced the best results of Andrew Luck’s career, and when he got to Seattle he helped boost the fortunes of their young QB, Austin Davis, not to mention helping Chris Carson become a 1,500-yard rusher. The son of former NFL legend, Blitz and Machine head coach Marty Schottenheimer, Brian is making a name for himself as a QB guru and a coach who adapts his offense to the talent on his team. That makes a lot of sense for a Skyhawks team that will be built around QB Lamar Jackson and his unique set of skills.

New Jersey went a very different direction, but one most predicted, choosing a defensive-minded coach in San Francisco 49er DC Robert Saleh. The former linebacker coach and quality control specialist produced strong results in San Francisco, helping to turn the 49er defense into one of the league’s best. His forte is producing takeaways, sacks, and defensive pressure. His 2019 defense was one of the NFL’s best as he helped get the 49ers into the Super Bowl. This year they fell just short, but once again his defense was a huge reason for the team’s success. New Jersey is hoping he can bring an aggressive style and a big-play mentality to the Generals’ defense, while also helping the team move on from a disappointing 7-8-1 season in 2020.

With these two hires, the USFL coaching carousel comes to an end. Who will find immediate success in their new role, just as Mark Trestman did with Tampa Bay in 2019 and his protégé, Jaime Elizondo did with Atlanta this past season? Will it be the offensive innovators—Schottenheimer, Gilbride, or Gruden? The defensive stalwarts Saleh and Quinn? Or will Greg Landry find retribution after a solid run with the Outlaws as he returns to lead a second team in Las Vegas?

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While the USFL is seeing an unprecedented number of free agents opting to wait out the offseason in hopes that competing bids between USFL and NFL teams during February’s transfer window will increase their leverage and produce better contracts for them, we did have some significant signings over the past two months. We may not have seen as many signings as fans would like, and there are still plenty of players left to fight over, but some teams have started filling roster holes and finding value in doing so. Here is our breakdown of some of the best signings of the offseason to date.

ARIZONA: QB Brock Osweiler, DE Jerry Hughes

The Wranglers shook off the shock of losing Calais Campbell to the Blitz and brought in a quality veteran to line up along with Bud DuPree. Will Hughes nab 20+ sacks? Very unlikely, but will he and DuPree create a solid edge duo? That seems more than likely. As for Osweiler, we think he is purely insurance in the event that Arizona’s Draft Day choice heads to the fall.

ATLANTA: SS Chuck Clark, QB Pat White

The signing of Clark is intriguing, because with Baccari Rambo and Earl Thomas Atlanta already has a very solid SS-FS combo. Our guess is that Clark, in addition to playing a swing position, will get a lot of snaps in nickel and dime coverages. He may even get some time in a quasi-LB role.

BALTIMORE: DT Michael Brockers

The big moves from the Blitz came early (Campbell & Micah Hyde), but adding an athletic DT to force teams away from overloading Campbell is a very shrewd move.

CHARLOTTE: WR Marques Colston

The veteran speedster may not be quite so fast anymore, but he still has good hands and will force defenses to respect the deep ball.

DENVER: WR Tavon Austin

The Gold recognize that their offense was too reliant on slow, 3-down plods up and down the field. Austin has never reached the potential we saw for him out of college, but he will offer some quickness and elusiveness in the slot.

LOS ANGELES: HB Ty Montgomery

With Paul Perkins expected to be the new starter at HB, we see Montgomery as a 3^rd down option and a change of pace. But will that be enough to help improve a pretty mundane LA attack?

MEMPHIS: TE Cameron Brate, DT Rakeem Nunes-Roches

Two good signings for the Showboats, with RNR eating space inside for a defense that wants to use a 46, at least on early downs. Brate is an undervalued receiver who can be a nice safety valve. With Brate, Dallas Goedert, and Luke Stocker, Memphis may have the best 3-man grouping in the league at tight end.

NEW ENGLAND: WR David Clowney, HB Robert Foster, FS Justin Bethel

The Steamrollers are clearly moving to improve overall team depth after 2020 proved they had solid front line talent. A deeper roster makes it easier to survive the 16-week grind of the USFL.

NEW JERSEY: HB Delone Carter, WR Pharoh Cooper, DE Grady Jarrett

The Generals bring back Delone Carter, who left for Ohio 3 years ago. Is he really the answer to start or will they upgrade in the offseason’ s final month. Jarrett is not going to be All-USFL, but he is a solid rotational player on the inside.

OKLAHOMA: LB Odell Thurman

The centerpiece of the Panthers’ LB group heads to Oklahoma on a 2-year deal that is likely his last. In Thurman, they have a QB for the defense and a player who will help develop some of their young talent.

PITTSBURGH: DE Vic Beasley

Veteran DE Vic Beasley is a nice pairing to go with breakout star Shaquile Riddick, giving Pittsburgh a solid edge combo. With defenses having to shift towards Riddick, we could see Beasley’s production increase as a Mauler.

SAN DIEGO: K Caleb Sturgis, HB Charles Sims, HB David Wilson, WR Arrelious Benn

The Thunder have been very active but are also apparently going for 2^nd and 3^rd tier players, which means they will have a very different roster in 2021, but we are not sure that there are many upgrades, except maybe Sturgis as their kicker.

SEATTLE: HB Wendell Smallwood, WR Kendrick Bourne

The Dragons land a 3^rd down back to take some of the pressure off Knowshon Moreno, and a swing receiver who could see significant snaps this year in Bourne.

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We cannot tell the story of the 2020 USFL Draft without first talking about the trades that helped shape it. As early as November we started seeing teams making moves towards Draft Day. As reported in our December report, we had a lot of QB movement, but we also had teams starting to swap T-Draft picks. St. Louis acquired Jacksonville’s 2^nd T-Draft pick, which we learned they would use on TE Kyle Pitts of Florida. Philadelphia acquired Birmingham’s 2^nd pick, which they used to select WR Jaylen Waddle. Portland and Charlotte swapped picks, and just as we all thought, Charlotte went after OT Penei Sewell of Oregon while Portland selected UNC halfback Javonte Williams. But we were not done there.

In the 2 week before the T-Draft we also saw San Antonio trade away LB Casey Matthews to Orlando in order to land the Renegades’ 1^st T-Draft pick along with a 4^th rounder in the Open Draft. That first pick, one of many Hurricanes taken, was DE Greg Rousseau. New Orleans and San Diego traded 2^nd round T-Draft picks, Orlando and Oklahoma swapped their first round T-Draft picks as well Washington sent a 1^st and a 5^th in 2021 to trade up with San Antonio in the 1^st round, moving from 11^th to 3^rd so they could select HB Travis Etienne, a deal that could only happen in the days between the T-Draft and the Open Draft.

Then, on the day of the Open Draft’s first 2 rounds, we got the usual rising and dropping as teams tried to position themselves to get the player they coveted but did not think would last. Birmingham opted to drop from the 6^th pick to the 10^th pick, adding a 4^th rounder from New England for the swap. The Steamrollers moved up to select Notre Dame LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, while Birmingham, picking in the 10-spot settled on CB Jaycee Horn (after passing on Patrick Surtain II in the T-Draft.

Denver got themselves a second pick in the opening round by sending 2 second rounders to New Orleans. The Breakers added another 2^nd rounder this year and one for next year with the move, while Denver jumped up to select Safety Camryn Bynum of Cal. And in another first round swap, Portland moved down 8 spots but picked up a 3^rd rounder from Atlanta as the Fire went from pick 25 to pick 17 so they could select Alabama DT Christian Barmore, and good thing too, because between those two picks Baltimore also picked a DT (Christian Darrisaw of Va Tech) and very likely would have gone for Barmore. Dropping 8 gave Portland the 25^th pick, and they too went DT, with La Tech’s Milton Williams, adding OT Will Sherman of Colorado with the extra 3^rd rounder they acquired.

And while we saw very few player for player swaps during the draft itself, we did have two worth noting. As part of their first round swap, Washington and San Antonio also swapped defensive tackles with the Federals sweetening the pot by offering the Gunslingers A’Shawn Robinson, while Portland gave the Feds a swap at the position by sending them Carl Davis. But the most interesting trade may have been the one between the Denver Gold and the Tampa Bay Bandits. Tampa Bay sent Denver WR Darnell Mooney and reserve OT Jack Mewhort in exchange for Denver RT David Bakhtiari, a pretty solid contributor who could be ready to switch to the left side if that is Tampa’s intent. The Bandits also received a 4^th round pick in the deal, which ended up getting used to select WR Dax Milne out of BYU.

So, movement in the T-Draft, movement up and down the Open Draft list, and even some players changing hands. But what was the net effect? Sounds like it is time for us to review the draft.

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The QB Run Down

Ten quarterbacks came off the board between the USFL’s Territorial and Open Drafts, a sign that there was depth at the position but also need across the league. Not every draftee will become a starter, of course, and, based on the track record for signings, at least 4-5 will opt for the NFL instead. So, with that in mind, what is the picture across the USFL when it comes to rookie QBs? Here is our breakdown.

Week 1 Starter if He Signs

Three of the signal callers selected in this year’s draft have real potential to be under center the weekend of March 26-28. Both Trevor Lawrence (Bulls) and Justin Fields (Glory) were chosen in the T-Draft and are clearly being wooed as an immediate starter and a potential franchise player for their USFL bidders. We like the chances for both to sign because Lawrence’s other option is the NFL Jaguars, who are a bit cash strapped, and Fields was chosen by the Chicago Bears, a franchise that has not had a true star at QB since Sid Luckman (Google him, kids).

As for the third, BYU’s Zach Wilson could be the Week 1 starter for the Philadelphia Stars after being selected with the first overall pick, but the New York Jets are wooing him pretty hard and they have the resources (and a more solid foundation for their roster) that could attract Wilson to the NFL. If that happens, Philadelphia will have to scramble to find a viable option at the position.

Potential to Start in Year 2 or Later

Two other QBs were taken in the first round of the USFL Open Draft, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance and Alabama’s Mac Jones. We don’t think either is the starter this year, but both, along with Stanford’s Davis Mills, could step in next year. Lance, unprotected in the T-Draft as NDSU was an unallocated school, went to Chicago, where he will sit behind Sam Bradford. Mac Jones to Arizona, where the Wranglers are hopeful that David Carr can return in MVP form once again, and Davis Mills was a T-Draft pick for the Oakland Invaders, who have 44-year-old Tom Brady at QB. In each case, a year of watching, learning, and preparing may well be their ticket to sophomore year success.

Don’t Be Surprised if They Get a Shot

We are putting 2 additional QB’s in this category, Florida’s Kyle Trask, and Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond. Both clearly start as backups behind established starters: Mond in Michigan behind Kirk Cousins, and Trask in Atlanta, behind Aaron Murray. Of course, that depends on if they sign with the USFL. Both could have a quicker path to a starting gig in the NFL, Mond with Minnesota and Trask in Florida with the Buccaneers.

Likely Career Backups

Hey, nothing wrong with being the backup, if you can do it well. We just don’t see late round additions Ian Book of Notre Dame (Chicago) and Sam Ehlinger of Texas (Oakland) developing into franchise quarterbacks, but they both could provided needed depth. Oakland’s situation in particular, with Brady as the starter, Kellen Moore back, and Davis Mills the higher-rated pick, likely means that if Ellinger signs, he is headed to the practice squad. For Book, we see him as an insurance policy for the Machine if Trey Lance heads to the NFL. The Machine are not in immediate need, so Book (like Lance) would sit behind Bradford, and possibly behind veteran backup Mike Kafka as well.

Ten Players Primed to Start in Week 1 if They Sign

It is not only about the quarterbacks, though we often focus on them as draft prospects. There is plenty of talent all across the draft board, and we see some good pairings of team need to player talent all over the draft. Looking not only at the Blue Chippers, but some mid-round picks as well, we see some real good fits across the league, players who could be starting in Week 1 if they take the deal and move their football careers to the spring. Here are 5 “first rounders” (NFL style) and 5 later picks who could be in the starting 22 from the start.

TE Kyle Pitts (Skyhawks or NFL Falcons)

With Will Dissley a solid blocker, he will likely see a lot of action at TE in run formations, but if you want a threat at the position, Pitts is the starter in St. Louis.

OT Penei Sewell (Stags or NFL Lions)

No doubt that Sewell will be defending Marcus Mariota’s blindside if he joins the Stags. An immediate impact player who is pro ready.

LB Micah Parsons (Stars or Cowboys)

No matter where he goes, Parsons will have a star on the side of his helmet, and a Week 1 starting gig.

OG Alijah Vera-Tucker (Express or NY Jets)

The Express feel good that they can land AVT simply based on his USC pedigree and closeness to family in LA. If they do, he slots in right away at RT to help the Express run game.

HB Najee Harris (Stallions or Steelers)

The Stallions have passed on too many Bama halfbacks over the year. They need to do everything they can to land this one, and if they do, they know he is their guy for at least 1^st and 2^nd down.

CB Asante Samuel Jr (Bandits or Chargers)

Samuel did not go until the 2^nd round of the NFL Draft, but was Tampa’s 1^st T-Draft pick, so the Bandits have a good chance of keeping the talented corner in Florida. If they do, slot him opposite Jalen Ramsey for a very nice 1-2 combo.

OT Sam Cosmi (Roughnecks or Washington FT)

This could be a case, one of many we see, where the T-Draft really helps a team land a targeted player. Cosmi would benefit from staying in Texas, while Dallas would benefit from his athleticism at right tackle.

DE Boogie Basham (Federals or Bills)

A 2^nd round pick by Buffalo, a 3^rd rounder by Washington, which may be problematic, but the advantage Washington has is that their RE slot is very much up for grabs, which means Basham could be a starter rather than a rotational contributor.

TE Tommy Tremble (Vipers or NFL Panthers)

If he lands in Las Vegas, Tremble has only Dwayne Allen to beat out to be the starter. That and a more secure QB situation with the Vipers could lure him to the desert and the USFL.

HB Rhamondre Stevenson (Gunslingers or Patriots)

Talk about a tough choice; join an expansion team in their 2^nd year of existence or sign on with perhaps the most dysfunctional franchise in pro football, the perennial 10-12 loss Patriots. Advantage Gunslingers, especially if they can promise him 15 carries a week to start.

 

Our Favorite Pick for Each Club

ARZ- QB Mac Jones, Alabama (1^st Round Open Draft)

With David Carr’s long term future very much a question mark, using a late 1^st round selection on a proven winner with a similar style makes a lot of sense.

ATL- DT Christian Barmore, Alabama (1^st Round Open Draft)

The Fire had plenty of talent to pick from in the T-Draft, but they also hit on a solid replacement for Albert Haynesworth with their first Open Draft selection.

BAL- WR Tutu Atwell, Louisville (1^st T-Draft Pick)

A bit of a curveball for a team that already has a future star in Michael Pittman Jr, but we see Atwell as a 3-positoin player, a kick returner, a slot receiver, and a potential replacement for Brian Hartline when the venerable receiver retires.

BIR- HB Najee Harris, Alabama (1^st T-Draft Pick)

The Stallions could have thrown a dart at the roster of the Crimson Tide and found a winner, but in Harris they fill an obvious need and very likely take a lot of pressure off Cam Newton at the same time.

CHA- OT Penei Sewell. Oregon (1^st T-Draft Pick of Portland via Trade)

The swap of T-Draft picks between Charlotte and Portland produced exactly what each team needed, a shot at a player in an obvious position of need. If the Monarchs can sign Sewell, they likely have a 10-year solution at left tackle.

CHI- QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State (1^st Round Open Draft)

Lance dropped well past where we thought he would go, and much to Chicago’s surprise, they had a shot at a future franchise QB who can sit behind Bradford and learn as he gets used to the speed of the pro game.

DAL- OT Sam Cosmi, Texas (2^nd T-Draft Pick)

A position of need, a player with a proven track record against top level opposition, and a Longhorn, what more could DFW fans want?

DEN- DE Odafe Oweh, Penn State (1^st Round Open Draft)

You could almost see the Gold’s licks smacking when they saw that Philadelphia did not protect Oweh. They love this Nittany Lion product and see him as a rotational starter from the get-go. Now, can they keep him from signing with the NFL Ravens?

HOU- OT Alex Leatherwood, Alabama (1^st Round Open Draft)

We all knew that Payton Turner would be their star T-Draft pic, but they got a bit lucky to see Leatherwood both skipped over by Birmingham in the T-Draft and slide all the way until the end of the 1^st round in the Open Draft.

JAX- QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (1^st T-Draft Pick)

Could it be anyone else? This entire draft, and very likely the future career of Coach Moss, depends on Lawrence being the player all the scouts say he is. And with the NFL Jaguars also picking the Clemson product, it is all about the deal as he is coming to Duvall County either way.

LA- CB Eric Stokes, Georgia (2^nd Round Open Draft)

We like LA”s T-Draft, but the biggest steal has to be finding Stokes still on the board with their 2^nd Open Draft pick. A true value pick.

LV- TE Tommy Tremble, Notre Dame (2^nd Round Open Draft)

Two good back-to-back picks in the open draft for Coach Landry and the Vipers’ offense, as they pick Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman in the first, and then possibly land an immediate starter at TE in the 2^nd round with Notre Dame’s Tremble.

MEM- LB Jabril Cox, LSU (2^nd Round Open Draft)

Another good 2^nd round pick as the Showboat defense picks another playmaker for Rex Ryan to scheme around. The Showboats love his motor and his range.

MGN- QB Kellen Mond, Texas A&M (3^rd Round Open Draft)

Sure, we could have said T-Draft choice Kwity Paye (and we do so love saying “Kwity”), but in picking Mond, we see real long-term planning for the Panthers. He won’t see much of the field this year if he signs with Michigan over the NFL Vikings, but he could very well be a great option if Cousins hits the cliff or hits free agency.

NE-CB Benjamin St-Juste (2^nd T-Draft Pick)

An underrated player out of Minnesota, St-Juste has already signed with the Steamrollers after getting passed over by the NFL until the 3^rd round of their draft.

NJ- LB Jamin Davis, Kentucky (1^st Round Open Draft)

Coach Saleh wants aggressive players and this Wildcat linebacker could be just the fit for him. The Generals will need to outbid the now-nameless Washington Football Team for his rights, but if they can land him, he could be a great fit for Saleh’s style of play.

NOR- WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU (1^st T-Draft Pick)

We really did not think the Breakers would do it, not with Nelson and Jefferson already on the roster, but when they see talent, they don’t shy away from it. Could you imagine trying to defend that trio? All New Orleans needs to do is get Chase to say no to the Bengals and they could be absolutely murder in the passing game.

OAK- QB Davis Mills, Stanford (2^nd T-Draft Pick)

A solid, shrewd, and pretty straightforward pick. Davis is not ready to play right away, but he could do a lot worse than to study under Tom Brady for a year.

OHIO- HB Trey Sermon, Ohio State (2^nd T-Draft Pick)

You would think we would say Justin Fields, the already signed and sealed QB for the Glory, but we love the idea that they also selected his favorite back as a security blanket and as a viable option behind Isaiah Pead.

OKL- WR Nico Collins, Michigan (3^rd Round Open Draft)

We thought the Panthers would protect Collins, after all, this year’s Summer Bowl proved they could use a few more offensive weapons. But, after dropping into the Open Draft, Collins waited until Oklahoma came calling, and we suspect he will be on the phone with Jalen Hurts a lot before a decision is made on his pro team.

ORL- DE Jaelen Phillips, Miami (1^st T-Draft Pick)

Seriously, does Orlando just hate QBs? They just keep picking stud edge rushers. We imagine that Phillips will rotate with Arthur Moats on the right side, because they are not going to pull Montez Sweat out of the lineup.

PHI- LB Micah Parsons, Penn State (1^st T-Draft Pick)

There was a lot of talent coming out of Happy Valley this year, but only one player had “can’t miss” written all over him, and that was Parsons. He will be a tough sign, however, as Jerry Jones will do all he can to land the Boys’ first pick.

PIT- WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC (3^rd Round Open Draft)

Not just a fun name to say, and not just the brother of Jacksonville WR Equanimeous St. Brown, Amon-Ra is a better prospect and a solid option for Andy Dalton in a receiver group that could use a bit more excitement.

POR- HB Javonte Williams, UNC (1^st T-Draft Pick of Charlotte—Trade)

Like we said, Portland and Charlotte found a way to get what each needed. We think Williams could be the next big thing in Portland, a city used to quality halfback play.

SAN- HB Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma (1^st Round Open Draft)

The Gunslingers were not happy with their slapdash run game last year, so getting a true bell cow was a priority. Stevenson is not a great receiver, but he can pound the rock, something the Gunslingers sorely needed last year.

SD- WR Kadarius Toney, Florida (2^nd Round Open Draft)

The Thunder spent most of the draft focused on their defense, but they get kudos for seeing an opportunity when Toney fell into the early part of the 2^nd round. A quick cutter and potential Week 1 starter in the slot, Toney has to decide between spring and summer in San Diego or winter in New York. Hmmm… seems a pretty easy choice to us.

SEA- C Landon Dickerson, Alabama (2^nd Round Open Draft)

Nothing flashy, nothing that will sell newspapers, but any time you can land a potential 10-year starter on the line, you have done something right.

STL- TE Kyle Pitts, Florida (2nd T-Draft Pick of Jacksonville-Trade)

When the Skyhawks traded with Jacksonville for their 2^nd round T-Draft pick, we wondered if they would go for Travis Etienne or Kyle Pitts. They decide to go with a target for Lamar Jackson, which means HB is still an issue, but Jackson has to love what Pitts can bring.

TBY- CB Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State (1^st T-Draft Pick)

Another “too easy” T-Draft choice. Samuel and Alabama’s Surtain were the two best corners in a draft that had a deep list. The Bandits want to be a team that can win both shootouts and smashmouth games, and adding a talented corner would certainly help them do just that.

WSH- HB Travis Etienne, Clemson (1^st Round Open Draft)

We love, love, love this pick!! Jacksonville chose not to select him with their 3^rd and final T-Draft pick, so there he was at the top of the 1^st round. Washington moved up by trading with the Gunslingers and got themselves a Week 1 starter. They have to compete with the Jaguars to land him, but the NFL club is also trying to sign Trevor Lawrence, so Washington may have a financial advantage.

2021 USFL Schedule Brings a Sense of Normalcy Back

It may not be exactly as the USFL would have liked, but with all 32 franchises able to operate in their home stadiums, albeit some with capacity caps, the USFL has not only been able to return football to every franchise’s home but is also able to return to its standard weekly schedule. There will be some small alterations to what we have seen in the past, but 2021 will certainly feel more like 2019 than the Covid-restricted 2020 season.

The biggest change from the “standard” USFL schedule is a delay in opening week. Rather than the 3^rd week in March, which has been the traditional start date, the league will kick off in the month’s final week, with a Friday night double-header kicking us off on March 26. The weekly schedule will then proceed through 17 weeks, with each team getting a bye during one of the midseason weeks (more on that in a minute). Each week will have a very familiar setup of 2 Friday night games, afternoon games on both Saturday and Sunday, with evening games each night as well. However, with the addition of the New England and San Antonio franchises bringing the lead to 30 teams, we do have one additional game each week. That impacted the schedule, but we think the end result is a net positive. With 2 games on Friday, we have 13 more games most weeks (fewer during the midseason byes). So, what is the solution? We will see 7 games on Saturdays, with 3 games in the early window (including regional TV coverage by either FOX or ABC), 2 games in the late afternoon window, and two nationally broadcast games in the evening timeslot. On Sundays we will have only 5 games, again with 3 early window games, 2 later window games, and only the ESPN/EFN Sunday Night Football broadcast at 8pm ET each Sunday night.

With those details looking very familiar, what should we know about the differences in this year’s schedule? Well, two obvious ones are in play, stadium capacity caps and bye weeks. The hope, of course, is that at any time various cities or states could remove the capacity caps, but we do have caps in place in several locations at present, including a limit to 50% capacity in Illinois (Chicago Machine), New Jersey (Generals), Colorado (Denver Gold), Washington (Seattle Dragons), Oregon (Portland Stags) and California (Oakland, Los Angeles, and San Diego). Surprisingly, Massachusetts did not join their more progressive “blue” states in requiring capacity limits for outdoor events, which means that the New England Steamrollers can do their best to fill Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.

As for the byes, the USFL has opted to compress the bye schedule a bit more than the NFL. While the fall league spreads the byes out over 8-10 weeks of their 17-week schedule, the USFL will have teams on a bye week only between weeks 7-11, creating a 4-week period when each of the 30 teams will have their week of rest and recovery. We will outline the byes for each team when we preview the entire season schedule in our Preseason report, but the structure means that we will see all teams play at least 6 games before getting their bye week and that we will see no byes at all during weeks 12-17, a five game stretch when playoff races really heat up and when many of you Fantasy USFL players are getting into your playoffs. We cannot promise that your best players won’t be rested in Week 17, but we do know that from weeks 12-16 you should have all your stars ready to go.

All in all it is very good news, and if we can get some more states to lift their capacity limits, we could very well feel “normal” again with USFL action from coast to coast each week. We got by last year, and we certainly saw some great football played, but it will be so nice to get back to the stadium, feel the spring and summer sun, grab some tailgate barbecue or a cold frosty one in the stands, and root on our favorite USFL clubs with thousands of fellow fans.

We will be back in just over a month, days before the 2021 USFL season kicks off, with a full season preview looking at every team, every division, every scenario. We will offer you our assessment of each team’s offseason, their chances for the year ahead, strengths and weaknesses, and we will offer you our fearless, but often way off base, predictions of the season ahead.