2020 USFL Offseason Report: January Edition

January 27, 2020

Welcome back, USFL fans! It has been an eventful winter and as we prepare for camps to open there is a lot to report and to look ahead to. We will bring you all the big stories, including a flurry of interest in the rookie QB class, some big draft position trades, and all the latest free agent signings. We will also take a look at the upcoming NFL-USFL Transfer Window and the top 20 NFL players who could well be available for USFL bids in 3 weeks’ time. We will also take a look at 10 USFL clubs still in the hunt for a huge missing piece in the final weeks of the offseason. It’s all coming up right now, kicking off with our look at a QB Crazy January.

Quarterback Quests Shake Up 2020 USFL Draft

It should not be surprising that our story of the offseason is all about the QB position. It is the hardest position to scout, the most in-demand, and the most often linked to team success. So it is not a shock that we get years like 2018, when teams from both the NFL and USFL battled over the largest pool of blue chip QBs in nearly a decade, with the USFL landing Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Mason Rudolph, while the NFL signed Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, and Baker Mayfield. While 2020 was not viewed as quite as rich a QB group, the break out season from LSU’s Joe Burrow meant that there were again 5 QBs who were getting 1^st round grades from both scouts and pundits. The class of 2020 would include Burrow, Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, Oregon’s Justin Herbert, Utah State’s Jordan Love, and Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts. And when there is that much talent at the most coveted position on the field, there will be some chaos leading into the draft.

What made the QB class of 2020 so intriguing for the USFL’s 30 clubs was that once again it would be the Territorial Draft that would give a team a direct shot at a coveted QB, but that we would not always see the top talent aligned with the most QB-needy teams. As in 2018, when there was one QB of the top choices who was not the product of a protected school, in that case Josh Allen at Wyoming, the 2020 Draft sees one potential target, Utah State’s Jordan Love, going directly to the Open Draft, while the other 4 were potential T-Draft selections of the Breakers (Burrow), Stallions (Tagovailoa), Stags (Herbert), and Outlaws (Hurts). And here is where it gets really interesting.

The Breakers had a very solid 2019 campaign, finishing 10-6 and advancing to the Divisional Playoff Round with NFL import Geno Smith at QB. Would they be open to trading away the rights to select Joe Burrow, or would they build for the future and use Smith as a bridge option, selecting Burrow themselves? Birmingham just signed Cam Newton to a multi-year extension, and they have a lot of needs elsewhere, so were they open to a deal for their first T-Draft pick and a shot at Tua? Portland seems very much settled on Marcus Mariota, despite his injury issues, and Oklahoma had all but handed the torch to Mason Rudolph after Joe Flacco returned to San Antonio in the Expansion Draft. So the field was set for teams that felt real pressure to upgrade at QB to make a deal to swap picks between the T-Draft and Open Draft to try to get exclusive rights to a QB.

So, what did we see happen in December and early January, leading up to the T-Draft? We saw a lot of phone calls, and a lot of attempts to make moves, but in the end what we got was 2 teams holding their picks and selecting their protected QB, hoping to land a franchise player, while 2 others opted to take some collateral in swap and allow a QB-hungry team to take their shot at a blue chip prospect. Here is the story of each of the 4 protected QBs, as well as the USFL fate of the unprotected Jordan Love.

LSU’s Joe Burrow (Protected by New Orleans)

Following an astounding final year at LSU in which Joe Burrow threw for over 5,600 yards and a jaw-dropping 60 touchdowns, the Breakers received more than their share of calls and offers, but they also received plenty of fan feedback, demanding that they not miss their chance to land a newly-crowned LSU legend. The Breakers never got a deal they felt could offset the bad press of allowing Joe Burrow to leave the fold, and at the Territorial Draft the Breakers did as their fans hoped they would, spending their first T-Draft pick on Burrow before also selecting his battery-mate, WR Justin Jefferson, as well as guard Damien Lewis.

Despite the ”home field advantage” the Breakers have in the Burrow chase, he was still highly coveted by NFL clubs, with the Miami Dolphins cutting a deal to swap picks with the somewhat gun shy Cincinnati Bengals. With the first overall pick Miami chose Burrow, which now sets up a battle for the young QB’s talents as the NFL Dolphins try to use the honor (and paycheck) that comes with being the first overall NFL pick to offset New Orleans’ local appeal to the LSU product. 

Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa (Protected by Birmingham)

With Cam Newton’s new deal taking up both significant cap space and locking him into the starting position for the Stallions, Birmingham never really felt pressure to land the Alabama QB, one of several top prospects at the position over the past few years. So, compared to the Breakers, they were a much easier sell when it came time to listen to trade offers. They found the deal they liked 10 days prior to the USFL T-Draft, securing Atlanta’s1^st T-Draft pick as well as the 4^th overall pick in the 2^nd round.

The aggressive move by the Fire was not anticipated, and likely comes as quite a shock to 2019 starter Aaron Murray, who has to feel like the team has lost confidence in him. The Fire now find themselves in a bidding war with the LA Chargers of the NFL who chose Tua Tagovailoa with the 6^th pick in their draft. Certainly there is regional appeal for Tua to stay in the Southeast, but sunny SoCal can be a lure as well.

As for Birmingham, they parlayed the two picks into two high potential selections, choosing Georgia OT Andrew Thomas with the Fire’s T-Draft pick (Atlanta would make it 2 for 2 by choosing Isaiah Wilson with the 2^nd T-Draft choice) and then using the Fire’s Open draft pick, number 34 overall, to go after some defensive help in the form of Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. 

Oregon’s Justin Herbert (Protected by Portland)

Our second traded T-Draft pick would shift from the Stags to the Roughnecks in another pre-draft deal. Dallas gave Oregon two T-Draft picks (1^st and 3^rd) for the Stag’s initial pick, allowing Dallas to select the Duck QB, recognizing that Josh Freeman was likely not a long-term solution as he winds down his career. With the two Dallas picks, Portland focused on defense, selecting Texas Longhorn safety Brandon Jones with the first pick and another Longhorn, DT Malcolm Roach with the 3^rd pick (Dallas selected WR Devin Duvernay in between the two).

So, who will the Roughnecks be competing with in their attempt to land a “QB of the Future”, the very same Bengals who swapped their way out of the 1^st overall pick and opted to take their preferred QB option with Miami’s 5^th overall pick. That has to be good news for Dallas, as Cincinnati has a well-earned reputation for frugality, almost the Denver Gold of the NFL, and that means that the Roughnecks could well outbid their NFL competitor without breaking the bank. And besides, Dallas has to be a more attractive destination for Herbert than Cincinnati. Just bring him down to Big D and have him watch footage of the Freezer Bowl back in the 80’s. That alone should make a West Coast kid choose Texas over Ohio. 

OU’s Jalen Hurts (Protected by Oklahoma)

The fourth of the protected QBs becomes the 2^nd to be selected by their “natural” territorial team. Coach Stoops never had the chance to coach Hurts at Oklahoma, with the prospect playing his first three years in Tuscaloosa, but he certainly was familiar with the former Bama and OU starter. Following a very solid 32-TD, 3,800 yard season for the Sooners, Coach Stoops kept the Sooner fans happy by selecting the QB from Norman.

Oklahoma may now have the clearest path to landing their preferred QB as Hurts did not find an NFL home until midway through the 2^nd round, when the Philadelphia Eagles selected him 53^rd overall. With all the departures in the offseason due to the expansion process, Oklahoma has more than ample cap space to make a deal with Hurts that exceeds what the Eagles are able to match in the NFL’s scaled salary system.

And what would Hurts coming to OKC mean for the incumbent, former Cowpoke Mason Rudolph? It means immediately we set up an OU-OSU rivalry at the QB position and a very likely QB competition, if not this year, in 2021. That could be fun to watch, especially for folks with strong feelings on the in-state rivalry between the two schools. We are not saying it will be Bedlam 2: Quarterback Boogaloo, but we aren’t saying it won’t be either. 

Utah State’s Jordan Love (Unprotected)

This leaves only one QB left from the “Group of Five” in the 2020 draft, unprotected Jordan Love. Coming out of Utah State, Love had questions about the level of competition, his route reading, and his overall production. Those questions pushed Love out of the first round of the USFL Open Draft and made him a potential steal in the 2^nd round. The Philadelphia Stars, apparently not fully committed to Matt Gutierrez as a long term prospect after a very rough 2019, saw that potential, made a deal with the Charlotte Monarchs which allowed them to jump up 11 spots and chose Jordan Love with the 43^rd overall pick.

The initial excitement around Love quickly turned to concern in Philadelphia when the Green Bay Packers surprised many by selecting Love with the 26^th pick in the NFL draft, making Love an NFL first rounder. The move a huge surprise since the Packers already boast an NFL All-Pro at QB in veteran Aaron Rodgers, but they apparently want an heir apparent and took Love far sooner than most expected the Utah State Aggie to go. So, what does that mean for the Stars? It means they may well have to spend a lot more than they might like to land a QB for the future. Does that doom them to letting Love go? Or will they invest in a player who may not see the field in his first year.

So there you have the story of the five “Blue chip, 5-star” prospects at the QB position. In the next few weeks we will see if the deals made by Atlanta and Dallas pay dividends, if Oklahoma and New Orleans’s home town heroes will come to the Spring, and if Philadelphia has the clout to outbid the NFL for their QB choice. We finish by giving you an update on other QBs taken in the draft, because, as former NFL and USFL superstar Tom Brady proved, not all great QB’s start their careers on the first day of the draft. Here is a quick rundown of the other QBs taken in both the USFL and NFL drafts.

PLAYER    USFL PICK               NFL PICK

Washington’s Jacob Eason         Dragons T-Draft               Redskins 4^th round

FIU’s James Morgan                         Bandits T-Draft                Jets 4^th round

Georgia’s Jake Fromm                    Monarchs 4^th round       Bills 5^th round

Oregon State’s Jake Luton         Renegades 6^th round       Jaguars 6^th round

Hawaii’s Cole McDonald                Express T-Draft                        Copperheads 7^th round

James Madison’s Ben DiNucci      Bulls 6^th round                        Cowboys 7^th round

Mississippi St. Tommy Stevens       Undrafted                               Saints 7^th round

Iowa’s Nate Stanley                    Undrafted                                Vikings 7^th round

Chattanooga’s Nick Tiano              Atlanta 7^th round                  Undrafted

Colorado’s Steven Montez               Denver 7^th round                     Undrafted

Northern Arizona’s Case Cookus    Arizona 7^th round                   Undrafted

The trading block was buzzing both before and during the draft itself, with teams moving up and down the draft board in search of the perfect mix of top talent and additional picks to work with. In addition to the moves that got Dallas and Atlanta T-Draft angles for top QB talent, we saw Philadelphia back out of the first round, and St. Louis trade a veteran QB for some picks.

Philadelphia Drops from First Round as Glory Move Up for WR Jerry Jeudy

The Stars cut a deal only minutes before their Round 1 pick, acquiring a 2 and a 4 from Ohio to drop 9 spots and make their first pick in the early stages of the 2^nd round. Ohio jumped up because they saw a player drop who they did not expect to be available by pick 24, Alabama receiver Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy was considered a possible Top 15 pick and a likely protected pick by the Stallions. But, when Birmingham opted instead to go with Jeudy’s teammate Henry Ruggs in the T-Draft, it apparently cast some doubt on Jeudy. As the first round of the open draft progressed, Jeudy kept slipping, and when Ohio saw that there was every chance he would be available at 24, they made the deal with the Stars to jump back into the round (having already selected Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons with the 3^rd overall pick) and claim the Bama receiver. They now find themselves in a bidding war with the NFL Broncos for Jeudy’s services, with the Alabama receiver going 15^th overall in the NFL Draft.

As for the Stars, they used Ohio’s 2^nd round pick, 3^rd overall in the round, to select DE K’Lavon Chaisson, another player who slipped lower than expected in the USFL Open Draft. They would then add DT Carlos Davis from Nebraska with the 24^th pick in the round to go back-to-back on D-line picks in the round. They used the 4^th round pick from Ohio to go back to the Penn State well and add a receiver they passed on in the Open Draft, Nittany Lion Dan Chisena. That gave Philadelphia the rights to both Penn State wideouts in the draft, having chosen K. J. Hamler in the T-Draft 4 days earlier.

St. Louis Sends Kyle Boller to the Monarchs for 2 picks.

We don’t often see many player for picks trades on draft day, but we got one this year as the Skyhawks sent veteran QB Kyle Boller to Charlotte for a 4^th this year and a 5^th in 2021. Boller just did not fit in with the style of play that St. Louis is developing around the talents of starter Lamar Jackson. With the mobile Tyrod Taylor now firmly placed in the 2-spot and able to run the same playbook as Jackson, Boller, a more classic pocket passer, just did not make sense. He made perfect sense for a Monarch squad that has been frustrated by starter Mitch Trubisky’s interception issues. Boller would be a solid option behind Trubisky, a proven commodity who will play well in the more traditional drop back passing roll Charlotte wants to run.

With the pick gained from the deal, St. Louis added Ole Miss safety Myles Hartsfield, another piece they hope can work to improve their oft-maligned defense. The Skyhawks, with additional trade capital from earlier deals with Dallas, Arizona, and Pitttsburgh, finished the draft with a league high 10 picks in the 7-round open draft. Combined with their 3 Territorial picks (Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs, DE A. J. Epenesa, and CB Michael Ojemudia) the Skyhawks will have a lot of mouths to feed. We will have to see how well they can negotiate the cap and compete with the NFL for the 13 players they have selected.

Denver Trades Position For Picks

On the other side of the USFL spectrum are the Denver Gold, who felt that their T-Draft options were very limited, and decided to maximize the pick-for-pick value of the Open Draft by conducting a series of trades to move out of the later rounds and acquire more early-round picks. They did not expand upon their 1^st round choice at pick 27, but made deals that gave them two picks each in the 2^nd and 3^rd round. The plan was clearly to limit the number of players selected, but maximize the ability to outbid the NFL for each pick. That may well be good news for the 5 players Denver selected: First rounder, Utah CB Jaylon Johnson, 2^nd rounders DE Jason Strowbridge of UNC and CB Bryce Hall of Uva, and third rounders, HB Jonathan Ward of CMU and OLB Jonathan Greenard, all of whom could get very nice deals from the Gold as they attempt to do more with less.

Las Vegas Trades for an All-USFL tackle

Hoping to shore up the protection for QB Matt McGloin, the Vipers made a deal to acquire a major talent at the left tackle position. Memphis LT Tyson Clabo, a 4-time All-USFL nominee, turned 35 this offseason and was due for a bubble payment at the end of his 4-year deal with the Showboats. Memphis apparently felt that the cost of the deal made Clabo expendable and agreed to a deal that would bring them a 3^rd rounder this year and a pick in 2021 (either a 4^th or a 2^nd contingent upon Clabo’s 2020 output.) The Vipers, who are limited in their cap space this year, are hoping to rework Clabo’s deal, adding a 3^rd year to the current package to reduce the bubble in 2021, but now find themselves with one of the best bodyguards in the league. Memphis, for their part, used the additional 3^rd rounder to work on the interior of their line, selecting Michigan guard Michael Onwenu.

With camps opening soon, we are still looking at a surprising number of free agents still unsigned, including some major talents in players like WR Antonio Bryant, FS Eric Weddle, QB Joe Webb, SS Leon McQuay, WR Kenny Britt, and DT Rakeem Nunes-Roches. But, even with some big name still in the pool it has hardly been an uneventful winter for Free Agent signings. Looking over the signings since our October report, we wanted to focus on the 5 stories that are worth following up on, and these are the ones that stood out to us:

Atlanta Takes a Shot at Unretired Haynesworth

When Albert Haynesworth filed to unretire from the USFL at age 37 there were plenty of doubters that any team would take the effort seriously, but after failing in two separate bidding wars, Atlanta pulled the trigger on the 9-time All-USFL defensive tackle. Call it desperation, call it a longshot, but the Fire, who had one of the worst run defenses in the league in 2019, went into the offseason with DT as a top priority and needed to come out of the winter with some hope at the position.

After losing out to Jacksonville in a bid to land 24-year-old Montravious Adams and also coming up short to the Panthers in an attempt to sign former Showboat Dontari Po, there just were not a lot of options left for the Fire. They did not find themselves in a position to draft a sure fire DT in the draft (not that there are any surefire picks in the draft anyway), so they took the long odds and signed the very-talented, but 37-year old Haynesworth to a 1-year deal. Will that be a solution for them or a case of pure folly? We will see soon enough when the Fire start the season with a tough opening day matchup against a Washington Federals team that absolutely wants to establish the run with Jahvid Best and rookie Darrynton Evans (already signed to a 3-year deal) as a 1-2 punch in the run game.

Philly Lands Kalil with 4-year deal     

The Stars are not shy about the fact that 2020 will be a make-or-break year for Matt Gutierrez as the starter at QB. After a year that saw the team win the NE Division despite a pretty miserable season for their veteran signal caller, Philadelphia did not go after a big-name QB to challenge Gutierrez, but instead are adding pieces to make their QB’s life a bit easier. Those pieces include adding HB Marcus Lattimore as a change-of-pace back for King Henry, drafting a pair of Penn State wideouts, and, in perhaps the move that will make Matt Gutierrez the happiest guy in the Stars’ locker room, the Stars opened up the vault and gave former Express LT Matt Kalil a 4-year deal that makes him the highest paid LT in the game. It is a compensation deal heavily front-loaded into 2020 and 2021, but certainly a sign of recognition for the 29-year-old tackle who has already proven to be one of the best in the league.

With Kalil protecting his blind side, Gutierrez is hoping for a resurgence, a bounce back year to silence the critics who were calling on the Stars to make a deal to land another option at QB. Gutierrez now has one of the league’s best protectors on his left, an OPOTY candidate in HB Derrick Henry, and a rejuvenated receiver group that features TE Travis Kelce, wideouts Randall Cobb, Quincy Enunwa, veteran slot man Steve Breaston, and quite possibly a highly touted rookie in PSU’s K. J. Hamler. If he cannot find success with that setup, well, that could be a sign that the disgruntled fans have some validity in their attacks on Gutierrez.

Is D’Aundre Reed Deal a Sign for Von Miller?

It has been a winter of discontent in Denver, at least for DE Von Miller, who continues to demand either a trade or a release from the Gold. The All-USFL edge rusher wants out, after being denied a major contract upgrade repeated times, and, if the signing of D’Aundre Reed says anything, it says that Denver may well be ready to let their most dangerous defensive weapon go. Reed signed a 3-year deal just before the Winter holidays, bringing his 9-years of experience at RE to the Gold. His signing signals that Denver may be ready to shift Justice Cole back over to the left side, to Miller’s position, and that could well mean that Miller is going to get his wish.

What form that wish will take is unknown, though it seems clear that if they go the trade route any team that deals with them would have to pay a hefty price to the Gold and then immediately work with Miller and his agent to make the feisty DE happy with a new deal, a double whammy of expense that may make Miller harder to deal than his talent would normally produce. The easier path may well be for Denver just to cut Miller loose, cancelling the final 2 years of his contract and allowing another team to land the All-USFL end for just the cost of a big new deal. But, why would Denver want to free up Miller to land with a possible rival. One theory is that the Gold will hold onto Miller right up to the opening of the NFL-USFL transfer window. If they release him just as the window opens, then the odds are in their favor that Miller will head back to the fall league for 2020 rather than hastily cutting a deal with another USFL team. That is a calculated risk, but with the signing of Reed, it may well be a risk the Gold are ready to take.

Birmingham Backs Up Newton with Tebow

Talk about an unorthodox backfield, Birmingham just doubled down on their 2019 strategy of using their QB as a primary contributor to the run game. Having shipped backup A. J. McCarron to the Portland Stags late in the 2019 season, and having agreed upon a 3-year extension for starter Cam Newton, the focal point of Coach Haley’s “Stampede” offense, it seemed logical that they would be seeking to upgrade from untested Bryan Kohler as their backup. Their choice to serve as Newton’s number 2 shows us that Coach Haley is going all in on the QB option offensive style, adding former Florida Gator, Jacksonville Bull, LA Express, and Orlando Renegade QB Tim Tebow this winter.

Tebow, who is often criticized for his limited skills as a drop back passer, is well-known for his fullback-like running ability. The 10-year USFL veteran has seen little action in past years, but his style of play is well suited to the offense Haley is devising for Newton, one in which there are often as many designed QB runs as there are drop back passes. Should Newton go down to injury in 2020, always a threat with any running QB, it seems Haley is interested in maintaining the same dual threat offense with Tebow stepping in. Will Tebow see action this year? Will Newton stay healthy? And will the unorthodox offensive strategy prove effective in a very tough Southern Division? That is the gamble that Haley is taking. We will see how it pans out in what could be a make-or-break season for the 2nd year coach.

Oakland Builds Secondary with 2 Additions

The Invaders were burned last year by their inability to keep offenses in front of them and avoid the big play. While their defensive stats overall were solid, the defense, and particularly the secondary, had too many lapses, allowing teams to break them down, stretch them out, and get quick scores that the somewhat limited Invader offense could not overcome. And, when you add the retirement of CB Chris Gamble and SS Jaiquawn Jarret to free agency, the secondary definitely needed some attention. The Invaders saw the need and made moves to secure two solid additions to their DB group in free agency.

The Invaders signed SS Marquestan Huff away from New Jersey in November and then went back into the pool to find CB Brandon Boykin, the 2^nd rated free agent at the position, bringing on the former Federal DB in early January. Those two additions, combined with a possible signing of Cal safety Ashtyn Davis from the T-Draft, could be a huge help to the Invaders. They still need to find an answer to the retirement of DE Cliff Avril, their primary pass rusher a year ago, but the Invaders at least now feel they can put a solid defensive secondary on the field, with Boykin pairing up with William Jackson III at corner and Huff partnering with Jahleel Addae at the two safety positions.

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Other signings of note over the winter include HB Marion Mack heading to Chicago to back up Jeremy Hill; Houston resigning starting center Shaq Mason; Michigan bringing in Tyler Thigpen to back up Kirk Cousins; New Jersey adding former Chicago WR Kenny Stills, San Antonio signing perhaps the best corner in the entire pool, former Skyhawk Jordan Pugh; and the New England Steamrollers continuing to add first team talent through free agency, landing FB C. J. Ham, SS Duke Williams, LB travis Goethel, and punter Ken Walter over the past 3 months.

We have already laid out the wild QB situation tied to the 2020 USFL Collegiate Draft, but what about the other 23 positions on the field? Well, as always the Draft is complex, uncertain, and largely contingent on how the USFL fares in their signing battles with the NFL. We can talk all we want about our perception of how each team managed the Territorial Draft or the steals they may have found in the Open Draft, unless they can sign the talent they selected, any draft can turn from an A+ grade to an F really quickly. So, how do we analyze the 2020 USFL Draft? We probably should wait a few weeks to determine who signs and who does not, so for now, what do we do? How about we tell you our favorite picks and just hope that they are suited up and ready for USFL camps in February? So, without further ado, and putting aside the QB position for a while, here are our 15 favorite picks by USFL teams across all 10 selections (3 T-Draft and 7 rounds of Open Draft), with the hope that we will see most of these players on the field in March.

15-WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (Indiana) – Seattle Dragons

Undrafted by the NFL, Westbrook-Ikhine became the first Dragon draft pick to sign with the team just 3 days after being taken with Seattle’s final pick. He is not a Year One starter, but when we look at the film on the Hoosier receiver, we see an ability to get open and a very good battler for those 50/50 balls. He also plays well in inclement weather, which is always a plus if you are going to play in Seattle.

14-QB Ben Dinucci (James Madison) – Jacksonville Bulls

The first of 3 Bulls picks to appear on this list, Dinucci’s selection in the final round of the USFL draft may feel like an afterthought, but we see a lot of potential in the Dukes’ QB. If the Bulls can stash him on their practice squad, Dinucci could have time to develop and we think he has potential to move up the depth chart in 2-3 years. Yes, a longshot, but with a 7^th round pick, that is still an acceptable choice, and we think this is one that could pay off in time.

13-K Tyler Bass (Georgia Southern) – Los Angeles Express

Are we serious that a kicker is one of the best picks of the draft? Well, when that kicker is one of the most accurate to come out of college in years, and when you only spend a 7^th round pick on him and still are in very good shape to land him, well that is a good pick. Bass was taken in the 5^th round by the NFL Bills, but here is a case where LA may well offer a much better home to a kicker than windy, cold, and snowy Buffalo. We certainly all agree that kicking at Farmers Insurance Field is a heck of a lot easier than in the swirling bitter cold winds of Buffalo.

12-HB DeeJay Dallas (Miami) – Orlando Renegades

We had Dallas as a 3^rd round talent, and Orlando liked him so much that they used their 2^nd pick in a pretty good T-Draft pool to select the Hurricane halfback. That he did not go in the NFL Draft until the 5^th round gives Orlando a very good chance to sign the Miami back. Picture Dallas as the inside back for the Renegades, allowing them to reduce the load on speed back Knile Davis. We could see a true Thunder & Lightning combo if Dallas shows the Renegades what we saw in Miami.

11-LB Alex Highsmith (Charlotte) – San Diego Thunder

When the Thunder chose UNC-Charlotte as their optional 4^th protected school (an option given to all teams with a small pool from their standard 3 schools), we knew exactly which player led to that odd choice. Highsmith is a high motor, high effort guy who can penetrate against the run and stay with tight ends in coverage. He is a bit raw, but he could turn out to be an excellent choice in the T-Draft by a San Diego club that just did not see much talent in their 3 California schools. They just need to outlast the NFL Steelers in the bidding battle to land him.

10-LB Anfernee Jennings (Alabama) – Orlando Renegades

With so much talent coming out of the Crimson Tide it feels like every year the Stallions have to let a player go unprotected who ends up being a huge talent. This year we think that player is Jennings, a 3^rd round pick for the NFL Patriots and for the Renegades, we believe Jennings could develop into a truly devastating weakside backer. He is a hard hitter, has great range, and good instincts. His size is not ideal, but we think that is the only reason he was not viewed as a first round talent.

9-HB Cam Akers (FSU) – Pittsburgh Maulers

With Marcus Lattimore off to Philadelphia in free agency, the Maulers needed to bring in a back who could help Sony Michel carry the load for a run game that needed more power runs. Enter Akers, a bruising back who also has the ability to break away and turn a short run into a 20-yarder. The Maulers chose Akers near the top of the 2^nd round, as did the NFL Rams, so we will see which team can get him to sign, but if he does end up in the Steel City, he could be an impact player in his first year.

8-TE Cole Kmet (Notre Dame) – Seattle Dragons

When Chicago passed on protecting Kmet in the T-Draft, you could see teams all across the USFL salivating. The only potential 1^st round talent at the position would be available in the Open Draft. With so many teams needing to fill their TE1 slot this offseason, including both Summer Bowl participants (with both starting TEs retiring after the Summer Bowl), it was a question of who would pull the trigger first. The answer was Seattle, using the 21^st pick to secure the USFL rights to the Notre Dame product. That spoiled things for several teams, and helped the Dragons who lost Dennis Pitta to the expansion Steamrollers this offseason. Seattle will compete with the NFL Bears for Kmet’s services, and while there is some concern that Chicago offers Kmet the chance to stay close to home (and to South Bend), Seattle’s use of a 1^st round pick on the tight end could help balance the scales.

7-DE Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State) – New Jersey Generals

We love this pick perhaps more than pure on-field talent should allow, for one reason only: Philadelphia took a calculated risk by not choosing the talented DE in the T-Draft, and New Jersey could make them pay for it twice a year when the two rivals meet in the Turnpike Series. Imagine the trash talk from YGM and all the Jersey fans every time he sacks the Stars’ QB after they passed on him. That kind of rivalry-enhancing pick is pure gold. Now, it is up to the Generals to land the edge rusher also selected by the NFL Carolina Panthers.

6-WR Tee Higgins (Clemson) – Jacksonville Bulls

The first player taken in the NFL Draft’s 2^nd round, Higgens was a T-Draft pick of the Bulls and would be a perfect target for Teddy Bridgewater and the Bulls’ pass offense. He would bring both speed and height to a Bulls’ receiver group that was short of both. Picked by the worst team in both leagues (Bulls and the NFL Bengals) the question becomes which bad team is a better fit for the coveted receiver? We think playing in Jacksonville with Bridgewater may be a more attractive option, but it may be money that decides this one.

5-HB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (LSU) – Houston Gamblers

Carlos Hyde will turn 29 this season, and as he edges towards the dreaded 30-year drop off, Houston wanted to be sure to have an option that would be able to step in, take some pressure off their All-USFL back and be as effective in the passing game as Hyde has been. With the 29^th pick in the Open Draft they may have found the perfect understudy who could turn into the protégé in the next few years. Eddwards-Helaire is a dynamic back very much in the mold of Hyde, able to run inside, outside, and catch the ball. He could not hope for a better situation than to be in Houston. We hope he sees that and does not sign with the NFL Chiefs, who also selected him late in the 1^st round of the NFL draft.

4-WR Justin Jefferson (LSU) – New Orleans Breakers

The first of two back-to-back WRs taken in the T-Draft, we love, love, love the idea of the Breakers building an offense around the combo of Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson, the dynamic pitch-catch combo that got LSU an NCAA title this past January. It will be tough to win both bidding battles (Burrow with the Dolphins, Jefferson with Minnesota), but if they can, what an immediate big-play combo they may have found in the T-Draft.

3-WR CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma State) – Oklahoma Outlaws

There was almost no way for the Outlaws to screw up their T-Draft, but the double dip of choosing Sooner QB Jalen Hurts as a competitor to Mason Rudolph, and then adding his favorite receiver, Lamb, in the 2^nd round, well that could work out very well for the Outlaws. Even if they go with Mason Rudolph at QB, if they can pull Lamb away from the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL, they can have one of the most dynamic WR groups in the league. We love the idea of Lamb and DeDe Westbrook on the field together.

2-OT Tristan Wirfs (Iowa) – St. Louis Skyhawks

Wirfs is viewed as a “can’t miss” prospect at left tackle after spending 3 years locking down the protection for Hawkeye quarterbacks. He will have to adjust to a much more dynamic QB in Lamar Jackson, assuming he joins St. Louis instead of heading to the NFL Buccaneers. Adapting to a more mobile QB and a gameplan that includes a lot of roll outs and bootlegs will be very different from Iowa’s more static QB strategy, but Wirfs has a ton of athleticism, seen in his use as a pulling tackle in Iowa City. We think he could be just what Lamar Jackson needs to confidently drop back and pass or go naked on a bootleg to the left.

1-DE Chase Young (Ohio State) – Jacksonville Bulls

The Bulls may have put together the best overall combined T-Draft/Open Draft week of any team, always a good thing to say about the prior season’s worst club. Young was left unprotected by the Ohio Glory, who had plenty of talent from Ohio State to chose from and went for 3 picks in positions of greater need. That left the consensus choice for best edge rusher in the draft available for the Bulls, and all they had to do was not blow the pick. They did not, choosing Young with no hesitation. Now, if they can outbid the Washington Redskins, who chose Young 2^nd overall in the NFL Draft, they could find themselves with a much improved pass rush, which can only help the team escape from the bottom of the league power rankings and the standings.

USFL Owners Wary but not Worried about Wuhan Virus

With the nightly news filled with stories of concern about the spread of the virus now known as Covid-19, we spoke with USFL officials about their thoughts. League officials told us that while they are keeping an eye on the news and have asked team and league medical teams to stay abreast of news as the virus expands from China out to the globe, they do not believe that even a significant viral epidemic, similar to a major flu outbreak will have a significant impact on the league or its players. Noting that USFL players are some of the healthiest people on the planet, the league stated that it would take a major outbreak, one which shut down entire communities, to impact the league. And while the news may be building up the Covid-19 outbreak as a serious concern, the league officials we spoke to felt confident that even a considerable outbreak could be handled within the league’s health and safety protocols.

In speaking with officials from the Dragons, Invaders, and Express, whose location in major Asian ports of entry, we heard similar sentiments, though one team physician (who wished to remain nameless) stated that it is not inconceivable that the league might need to adjust its injury reporting and possibly even its IR guidelines if there were an outbreak that impacted teams rosters. All three medical teams felt that while there was a significant health risk to the virus, that what was more likely was a possible impact on league attendance if fans were concerned about large mass gatherings, but not necessarily player safety. So, as the world has Covid-19 on the tips of their tongue, the message from the USFL is that they are vigilant but fully expect that the season will not be impacted any more than we might see in a particularly bad winter of flu outbreaks.  Good news in a time when we seem to be focused on the negative.

As we look ahead towards next month’s NFL-USFL Transfer Window, there is a lot to be excited about. Almost as if on cue the NFL looks to have its largest free agent class in over a decade. Maybe it is that agents are convincing players that a USFL expansion season is a good time to hit the market and get top dollar, maybe it is just a coincidence of contract expirations, but we are looking at a very rich pool, and it may get even richer if the rumors are true about a certain 5-time pro football champion. As we look over the pool of talent available, here are the top stories to follow.

Cornerbacks Aplenty

We are looking at an NFL free agent cornerback group that could be as many as 25 deep, depending on how many sign quickly during the 10 days of NFL-exclusive deals. But, with a pool this deep, there is sure to be some quality when the USFL gets their shot. At the top of the list right now are All-Pro options and consistent starters like Jalen Mills, Ronald Darby, Jimmy Smith, Logan Ryan, and Trae Waynes. Expect some major action at this position as clubs always want more depth and more quality in the secondary.

D-Line Destroyers

While not as deep as the CB group, there are some major players along the defensive line for USFL teams to salivate over. Whether you are looking for edge help form the likes of JaDeveon Clowney, Vinny Curry, or Emmanuel Ogbah, or run-stuffers inside like Michael Brockers, Quinton Jefferson, Michael Pierce, or Maliek Collins, there looks to be a handful of top tier options for the USFL clubs to consider.

Speed & Power at HB

The Halfback position may not have any of the NFL’s league leaders, as it rarely does, but if you are looking to fill a need for either a speed back or a short yardage plugger, there will be options here. For speed try 49er Matt Breida, Jet Ty Montgomery or Copperhead Dion Lewis. If you want pure power, take a look at Steeler Trey Edmunds or Eagle Jordan Howard. And if a receiving back is what you crave, you could do a lot worse than veteran LeSean McCoy or the Chargers’ 3^rd down specialist, Austin Ekeler. Expect some USFL Coaches to consider a 2-back rotation if they can land the right back in the transfer window.

Receivers to Rave Over

Whether you want speedburners, sure-handed 3^rd down options, or big tight ends with good hands, well this pool could be for you. We have veterans up and down the receiver group, and while some come with a bit of baggage (often of the “diva” stereotype), the talent is here. How about some deep ball speed with veterans like Josh Gordon, Tim Patrick, or Jermaine Kearse. If you want some sure hands, there is Robby Anderson and Jake Kumerow. And, if you want the total package, the clear number one receiver in the pool is former Bengal A. J. Green. Green is coming off an injury, so there is a risk there, but the upside is certainly there too.

And, yes, we know that there are a lot of teams, including the two Summer Bowl competitors, Arizona and Houston, who are looking to add a pass-catching TE. If that is what your team needs, then you are really happy to see Viking Kyle Rudolph in the mix, along with Copperhead Jonnu Smith, and Ram Gerald Everett. Expect Rudolph to be a major target of attention after several outstanding seasons up in Minnesota.

QB Group Waiting on Possible HOF Decision

The current QB group in NFL free agency is pretty solid, but it could turn into a real feeding frenzy if the rumors of Tom Brady’s departure from Dallas prove true. Brady and the Cowboys have not been on the same page for a couple of years, and there is serious thought that Jerry Jones will let the 3-time Super Bowl MVP walk. Brady seems to want just that, and while at 43 many would expect him to retire, he seems to believe he has more than a couple of good years left in him. If Brady becomes a free agent, which could happen at any time if Jones and Brady agree to cancel the remaining year of his contract, well, that will produce a two-league QB chase that could break the bank and the internet.

Without Brady, there are still some very interesting options for QB-Hungry teams to consider. As per usual, the pool has some baggage, some players needing a 2^nd chance, but some real talent as well. Among the players who could compete for a USFL starting job we find Jaguar Blake Bortles, Buccaneer Jameis Winston, 38-year old Charger All-Pro Phillip Rivers, and former Dolphin starter Matt Moore. For teams looking for a quality backup, we add Nate Sudfeld, Mike Glennon, Cooper Rush, and former OSU star Cardale Jones to the mix.

Lots of talent, lots of late-offseason upgrades, lots of intrigue as the 2020 February USFL-NFL Transfer Window comes to fruition in just a few weeks. Who will add a major player to their camp rosters? Who will opt to jump leagues? And, the question on everyone’s mind, will Tom Brady, a 2-time USFL Champion with the Generals and 3-time NFL Champion with the Cowboys, be on the market and possibly returning to the league that gave him his start?

We are back in mid-March, one week before the USFL season kickoff with our full USFL preview. We will examine all the teams, the rookie signings, NFL imports, late trades and free agent additions, and every team’s prospects as we prepare to kick off the 38^th season of USFL football. All right here in just about 6 weeks time. We will see you there.