2021 USFL Week 10 Recap: Trade Deadline Aligns Buyers and Sellers
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Week 10 saw the trade deadline come and go with a flurry of late deals as teams try to prepare for a playoff run. It also saw a major upset as the San Antonio Gunslingers shocked the Houston Gamblers. Week 10 was also the debut of the “new look” Oklahoma Outlaws, and it was a good one for the newest Outlaw, Eddie Lacy. As we prepare our first Playoff Picture review, we will also look at all the Week 10 scores, discuss the impact of the Matt McGloin injury for the Vipers, and take a look at 5 coaches who have a lot to prove over the season’s final 6 weeks. All that, but we start with a very active trade deadline, our Big Story for the week.
Buying & Selling at Trade Deadline
After last week’s huge 3-team deal, we had a feeling that the Week 10 Trade Deadline would not go out without a bang, and we were right. The Memorial Day Weekend added an extra day to the deadline, shifting it from Monday to Tuesday, and that helped at least 2 deals get pen to paper and filings in to the league office for some 11th hour swaps. Was there a pattern to the deals? Absolutely. In each case we saw a team engaged in a playoff hunt, some on the fringe, some pretty well placed right now, working to address a gap or to improve a particular aspect of their squad by pulling in a high priced player from a team likely out of the playoff picture (if only realistically and not mathematically). In several cases, it was a high-priced player in a contract year who was shipped off, freeing up cap space for the seller while providing an option for the buyer to jettison the player after the season or resign them to a new deal. For the players, it is a chance to prove their worth and get that new deal with a new team, or, if the fit is not good, to walk after the season concludes. So, who made the deals and how do we think it will impact the remainder of the season? Here is our breakdown of the 4 big deals completed between last Wednesday and this Tuesday.
DENVER ADDS HB DEPTH
A lot has gone well for the Denver Gold offense this year, but the run game has not been what Coach Hufnagel wants to see, with Phillip Lindsay averaging only 2.9 YPC and the team as a whole sitting 26th in the league rankings. The Gold would love to get a bit more out of their run game to take pressure off their young QB, Josh Allen. So, they went searching for a complementary back to Lindsay, and they found one in San Diego, where the emergence of Charles Smith has meant that veteran David Wilson was seeing fewer and fewer touches. San Diego agreed to a deal that would send Wilson to Denver in exchange for CB Jaylon Johnson and a 4th round pick in the 2022 Open Draft. Wilson is in a contract year and having just turned 30 will have a chance to prove his worth in Denver’s attack as the Gold seek a possible SW Division title. San Diego gets some depth at corner and adds a pick as they try to rebuild around HB Charles Sims and one of their two “Christians” at QB (Ponder & Hackenberg).
EXPRESS STAY FOCUSED ON DEFENSE
Apparently, being ranked 4th in scoring defense and 3rd in yards allowed is not good enough for the Express, who opted to double down on the defensive side of the ball rather than try to fix their 29th rated offense. They certainly got themselves a gamer this week in a deal with Jacksonville. Veteran cornerback Dominique Rogers-Cromartie heads to LA to finish out his 13th USFL season. Rogers-Cromartie, also in a contract year, will join a secondary that already features another savvy veteran and All-USFL corner in Stephon Gilmore, as well as safeties Lonnie Ballentine and Rahim Moore. The move certainly makes LA’s pass defense, already a Top 10 squad, all the more difficult to gameplan against, but does little to address the offensive issues that have plagued the Express. Jacksonville, for their part, picks up 2 third round selections, one each in 2022 and 2023 as they give DRC a chance to play for a title with the Express.
Panthers Give Cousins Another Option
Michigan, concerned with a precipitous drop off in offensive production this season, and still in a search for a viable option opposite Cody Latimer found themselves a good one in former Charlotte Monarch receiver Justin Blackmon. Blackmon, Charlotte’s lead receiver this year, has been grumbling of late in Charlotte. He now gets a chance to play for the Panthers and for a possible playoff spot, something not possible with the winless Monarchs. The 9-year veteran who started his career in Boston, joined Ohio for 4 seasons, and then moved on to Charlotte in 2018, had 3 consecutive 1,000 yards seasons with the Monarchs. He has 602 yards so far this year, and now heads to Michigan for the final 2 years of his contract.
The Panthers get themselves a bona fide deep threat in Blackmon, and in return send WR Calvin Ridley and a 2nd round choice in the 2022 Draft to the Monarchs. Ridley never really synched with the Panther offense, with only 23 receptions in 2020. In Charlotte, expect him to start off as a swing receiver, with Marques Colston and Austin Proehl the likely starters. Ridley could swap snaps with slot receiver Tandon Doss, or could sub for either outside receiver. Meanwhile, expect Blackmon to line up opposite Cody Latimer from the get go, providing more of a deep threat in the Panther attack. Michigan will shift Donovan Peoples-Jones to a swing position, splitting time with Kevin Kraft in the slot, but also backing up both Latimer and Blackmon outside.
SEATTLE ADDS VETERAN EDGE RUSHER
Without a doubt the biggest deal of the final week saw the Federals part with DE Chris Long, sending the 13-year veteran to the Seattle Dragons for a two 3rd round picks (2022 and 2023). Long, another player in a contract year at the age of 33, has been highly productive for the Federals, recording 14 or more sacks each of the past 5 seasons. He has 8 already this year, and now he joins a Seattle defense that is already ranked in the Top 10 in all 4 major defensive categories (points, total yards, passing, and rushing). Seattle leads the Pacific Division with a 7-2 record and is clearly focused on a Summer Bowl this year. Adding a proven pass rusher opposite Deshon Hall gives Seattle an important upgrade at a key position down the stretch. With one of the best secondaries in the game (Corners Richard Sherman, Chidobe Awuzie and Jaire Alexander, with safeties Taylor Rapp and Terrell Edmunds), and a LB group headed up by Khalil Mack, Josh Allen and Calvin Pace, the Dragons now add a veteran edge rusher. Expect Seattle to use the combination of Long and Mack to assail one side of an offense’s line, as Mack alternates sides to match down and distance. This could be a very effective two-pronged attack.
As for Washington, the departure of Long was anticipated this offseason. By moving him now, they get compensation that would have been lost in free agency, adding mid-round picks to their draft plans for the next 2 years. The departure of long means that Bradley Chubb will be the primary focus of the Federal pass rush, with Jalen Jelks moving from swing end to starting right end. Expect Washington to complement Chubb’s pass rush with blitzes from OLB Patrick Queen, MLB Tremaine Edwards, and safety Kenny Vaccaro.
So, Seattle addresses the pass rush, LA adds to an already strong D, Michigan boosts their aerial attack, and Denver their run game. Four teams hoping to make a splash in the postseason, and hoping that a late season acquisition can put them over the top. As for Jacksonville, Charlotte, Washington, and San Diego, their sights are clearly on building for the future, freeing up cap space, and reducing the pressure to resign older veterans, picking up draft capital along the way. It is the buyer-seller market of the Trade Deadline, and we will see the results over the next 6 weeks and into the offseason.
CHICAGO MACHINE 13 MICHIGAN PANTHERS 19
It was billed as a Central Division showdown, a battle between the Michigan Panthers, winners of the division 4 of the past 5 years, and the Chicago Machine, a 7-1 team that appeared ready to dethrone the champions. With Michigan already 3 games behind Chicago at 4-4, and sitting all the way down the standings in 4th place, this was a “must win” situation if the Panthers wanted any chance at the division. For Chicago, it was a chance to knock Michigan below .500 and out of the division race, one that had been more complicated than most expected, with the rise of Pittsburgh and Ohio as contenders.
Played in front of 51,048 in Ford Field, this was also a classic rivalry game, with the Midwest’s two preeminent USFL clubs facing off again. It would be two highly respected defenses, each trying to shut down the primary weapons of their opposition. Michigan HB LeVeon Bell would be the focus for the Machine defenders, while Michigan’s defense would attempt to disrupt Sam Bradford of the Machine. Both defenses would find some success, with Chicago actually finding more of an advantage against the Michigan passing game, sacking Kirk Cousins 6 times on the day, while Michigan absolutely crushed Chicago’s run game, with the Machine attempting only 8 rushes all game.
Michigan won this game thanks to absolute clock domination, holding possession for a remarkable 43 minutes as Chicago went 0 for 6 on third down, and managed only 31 offensive plays on the day, eking out only 6 first downs all game long. Michigan, for their part, ran 69 offensive plays, each one milking the play clock as far as it would go. They more than tripled Chicago’s first down production, racking up 24 on the day, but for all that dominance, they could never truly pull away from the Machine, leaving them vulnerable to even a single big play in what would be a 6-point victory.
In a game that saw only 2 touchdown drives, both coming off turnovers, it was a war of attrition, with teams swapping field position throughout the game. Michigan used their run game, bolstered by the acquisition of fullback Khari Blasingame, to grind out first downs and get themselves in position for kicker Chase McLaughlin, who finished the game accounting for 13 of the Panther’s 19 points. LeVeon Bell would carry the ball 25 times, clawing out 109 yards, while backup Alexander Mattison fared even better, averaging 7.3 yards per carry for 51 yards.
Chicago would abandon the run early on, relying on Sam Bradford for pretty much all their offensive production. Their one TD came after the only true break-away play of the game, a 78-yard catch and run by Chase Claypool, only 1 of 2 receptions on the day for Bradford’s favorite target. It would be TE Tyler Eifert who would lead all Chicago receivers with 5 catches. The one-dimensional offense proved problematic for Chicago, with Bradford picked off twice, including in the final minute of action to preserve the Michigan win. Chicago’s attack was off the entire game, with Bradford only completing 13 of 23 passing, and failing on each 3rd down attempt the team faced.
It could not be called an exciting game, with few offensive fireworks, though it certainly was a tense one, with Michigan building a 16-3 lead only to give up the big play to Claypool and a 3rd quarter touchdown that pulled Chicago within 6. In the 4th quarter Michigan extended the lead to 9 points with Chase McLaughlin’s 4th field goal of the day, only for Chicago to respond with Daniel Carlson’s 2nd on the day. The Machine were again within 6 and they got the ball back with 3:31 left to play, but would need to drive 83 yards for a touchdown if they wanted to complete the comeback.
After getting a quick first down on a Bradford to Kearse 16-yard throw, the Chicago drive, and the drama of the game, quickly came to an end as Bradford, pressured by LB Sean Porter, tried to hit Claypool on a comeback route, only to have Michigan CB Dre Kirkpatrick, who had already defended 5 passes and picked off a 6th, come up with a 2nd pick on the day, snatching the ball away from Claypool before stepping out of bounds. Michigan ground out a pair of first downs and could have added a 5th McLaughlin field goal to extend the lead, but opted to take a knee and end the game with a 6-point victory.
It was a game dominated by Michigan’s lines, the offensive line helping to grind out 167 yards on the ground and keep the game clock rolling, the defensive line limiting Chicago to a ridiculous 8 total yards rushing (admittedly on only 8 attempts) and pressuring Bradford into only 13 of 23 passing. It was also a game dominated by CB Dre Kirkpatrick, who all but shut down Chase Claypool, allowing 1 reception in man coverage against the Chicago wideout. The lone strike to Claypool came off a stacked receiver group in which Kirkpatrick was forced to cover Michael Floyd and leaving Claypool on safety Jabril Peppers. Michigan got the win they needed, drawing them within 2 games of Chicago at 5-4, while Chicago got a bit of a wake-up call. They would need to play better if they were to hold onto the division, one that had 3 other legitimate contenders in the mix.
OKLAHOMA 37 DALLAS 13
The new-look Outlaws were impressive, as was HB Eddie Lacy, who rushed for 116 yards and a TD in his Oklahoma debut. The Outlaws outgained Dallas 413-241, thanks to offensive balance. Jalen Hurts threw for 239 and 2 scores but also scrambled for another 51 yards and a score as Oklahoma rolled. And no concerns about the loss of Pacman Jones from the secondary, as the Outlaws picked off Justin Herbert 3 times. Dallas’s lone TD came on a pick six by Patrick Peterson as the offense struggled to establish anything on the day.
POTG: Outlaw QB Jalen Hurts: 18/27, 239 Yds, 2 TD, 2 Int, 11 Att, 51 Yds, 1 TD
NEW ENGLAND 13 MEMPHIS 23
New England’s new HB combo (Hill and Yeldon) combined for only 62 yards rushing, while Ryan Tannehill completed 23 of 44 for 235 as the Steamrollers fell to the Showboats in a pretty lackluster performance for both teams. Memphis got the advantage late, thanks to 3 straight scoring drives, with Robert Woods giving them a 17-13 advantage, built up with two Lewis Ward field goals in the 4th.
POTG: Memphis LB NaVorro Bowman: 10 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR
PHILADELPHIA 24 CHARLOTTE 19
The homestanding Monarchs, in front of barely 21,000 in Charlotte, played the Stars tough, holding a 19-17 lead until the final 69 seconds of action. Philadelphia QB Carson Wentz, who had been picked twice in the game, found K. J. Hamler for a game-saving touchdown to conclude a 2-minute drill to avoid the embarrassing loss to a winless Charlotte club. The Monarchs held Derrick Henry to only 63 yards rushing and forced 3 turnovers on a sloppy day for the Stars.
POTG: Philadelphia CB Dwayne Gratz: 3 Tck, 4 PDef, 1 Int
PITTSBURGH 21 OHIO 6
The Mauler D shut down and nearly shut out the Glory, limiting Justin Fields to negative rushing yards and only 178 yards passing with 2 picks and 3 sacks. That was all Andy Dalton needed, finding rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown and veteran Albert Wilson for scores, with Sony Michel adding a third on a 15-yard dash as the Maulers dominated their division rivals to take over 2nd place in the Central.
POTG: Mauler LB Brian Cushing: 3 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF
ST. LOUIS 21 SEATTLE 34
Lamar Jackson had himself a game, but it was not enough against the streaking Seattle Dragons. Jackson rushed for 148 and 2 scores, threw for another 137 and another score, and single-handedly kept St. Louis alive, but in the end the Dragon offense had too many opportunities, with Brett Hundley throwing for 3 scores and Knowshon Moreno rushing for a 4th along with 109 yards on the day. Seattle wins a 7th in a row to hold the lead in the Pacific, while St. Louis drops to 2-7.
POTG: Seattle LB Khalil Mack: 7 Tck, 2 Sck
BIRMINGHAM 21 NEW ORLEANS 10
Serious concern about the Breakers after another poor offensive showing. The Breakers were held to only 232 yards of offense, committed 2 turnovers, and failed on both 4th down attempts as Birmingham improved to 6-3 on the season with a balanced game. New acquisition Pacman Jones had 5 pass defenses, but the shining star was rookie LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who finished the game with his first USFL interception, a pick-six to celebrate his new role and his new team.
POTG: Birmingham LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: 6 Tck, 1 FF, 1 PDef, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
ORLANDO 40 ATLANTA 17
The Fire drop their third in a row as Orlando dominates, putting up the final 16 points of the game and outpacing the Fire from the opening gun. Brashad Perriman had 2 TDs on top of 140 yards receiving, while Montez Sweat picked up 2 more sacks as the Atlanta O-line struggled all day. The Renegades got within 7 in the 3rd on a Murray to Green TD, but Orlando put the game away with 4 consecutive scoring drives.
POTG: Orlando WR Brashad Perriman: 7 Rec, 140 Yds, 2 TD
TAMPA BAY 43 JACKSONVILLE 6
No trap game here as Tampa Bay takes care of business. Dak Prescott went 17 of 27 for 287 yards and 3 scores to power the Bandits. Ryan Grant went over 100, while Dez Bryant had 2 scoring catches in the Bandit romp. The defense picked off rookie Trevor Lawrence 3 times and sacked him 4 more in a long day for the rookie QB.
POTG: Bandit QB Dak Prescott: 17/27, 287 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int
HOUSTON 15 SAN ANTONIO 31
The biggest shock of the week as the homestanding Gunslingers took it to the visiting Gamblers. Joe Flacco was in vintage form, throwing for 324 yards and 2 TDs, while the defense held the Gambler attack in check all game with a combination of shallow zones and LB blitzes. The Gunslingers controlled the ball and the clock, finishing with over 36 minutes of possession and a very impressive 16-point divisional win.
POTG: Gunslinger QB Joe Flacco: 28/38, 324 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int
OAKLAND 24 PORTLAND 17
Portland was game, with Mariota to Josh Gordon tying the game at 17 late in the 3rd, but they could not get over the hump, with Tom Brady finding Zach Ertz for the game winner. Brady was efficient all game, completing 22 of 31 for 236 and 3 scores, while Christian McCaffrey averaged 5.1 yards per carry for 71 total yards. Portland, playing without Doug Martin, split carries between Tavares Cadet and Javontae Williams, but only managed 23 total rushing yards against the Oakland D.
POTG: Invader TE Zach Ertz: 4 Rec, 38 Yds, 2 TD
LOS ANGELES 30 LAS VEGAS 17
Coach Lewis had to be happy with his offense on this day, with Paul Perkins busting out for 136 yards rushing and Kyler Murray throwing for 237 and 3 scores with no turnovers. A safety late in the game proved to be more than just 2 points for LA as Matt McGloin left the field with what was later determined to be a fracture in his clavicle, a shoulder injury that will cost him the remainder of the season. With the result, both teams now sit at 4-5 on the year.
POTG: Express HB Paul Perkins: 17 Att, 136 Yds
Birmingham Gets DPOTW Debut from Owusu-Koramoah
It took only 1 weeks for the 3-way trade between New England, Birmingham, and the Oklahoma Outlaws to pay dividends, and in the case of Birmingham, impressive ones. Rookie LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah had only 3 days of practice with the Stallions, but was given the start against New Orleans. Playing on raw talent and instinct, the young linebacker made an immediate impression. JOK, as announcers and teammates have already gotten used to calling him, came out of the gate with his new teams with a Defensive Player of the Week performance, recording 6 tackles, a forced fumble, and a pick six in his first action as a starter.
The big play for JOK came in the 3rd quarter, with New Orleans backed up inside their own 10. Geno Smith simply did not account for the speed of the rookie LB, trying to squeeze a pass to his favorite target, TE Coby Fleener. Owusu-Koramoah easily undercut the route, snatched the ball out of the air, then pushed his way (with some help from the pile) the 7 yards to paydirt. The pick-six in JOK’s first game gave Birmingham a 14-7 lead and would prove to be the game winner for the Stallions. Not a bad first impression for the young Notre Dame grad. The kind of first impression that has to make New England fans question why JOK was not a starter for them over the season’s first 9 weeks.
Lacy Impresses in First Game as Outlaw
A second former Steamroller also balled out in his debut with his new team. HB Eddie Lacy had only his 2nd 100-yard day of the season after a short week of practice in Oklahoma. Lacy rushed the ball 23 times for 116 yards for the Outlaws, helping Oklahoma earn a key divisional win over Dallas. He also scored on a goal line plunge in the 1st quarter, only his 3rd TD of the season. The 116 yards in his opening game as an Outlaw represents a full ¼ of all his yards this year and serves as a notice that he is ready to be a huge part of the Outlaw attack moving forward.
With 34 yards in his first 5 attempts of the game, Lacy’s presence also impacted the passing game, with defenders forced to respect the run, Jalen Hurts had more time in the pocket, able to complete 18 of 27 passes. He also took advantage through several called option plays, rushing 11 times for 51 yards and a score thanks to the threat of the pitch out to Lacy. All in all a very strong outing and a very interesting twist in what could be a down-to-the-wire SW Division race.
McGloin Lost for Season, Minshew to Take the Reins
One of the teams in the mix in the Southwest will have to move ahead with Plan B after losing their starting QB to injury this week. Las Vegas QB Matt McGloin was battling the LA defense all game, when he suffered a safety to LA end Deatrich Wise Jr. late in the 4th quarter. McGloin tried to wriggle out of the tackle when he was hit by LB Keith Rivers and driven to the ground. The awkward landing on his throwing shoulder produced instant gasps and winces of pain for the Viper QB. As the Vipers kicked the ball back to LA, McGloin was helped to the locker room. It would later be revealed that he had suffered a fracture to his right clavicle, an injury which would require immobilization and time to heal, shuttering McGloin for the rest of the season.
Las Vegas had signed NFL gunslinger Gardner Minshew in the offseason. The former Jacksonville Jaguar came into the game, threw 1 pass for 4 yards, and was chased out of bounds on a scramble in his second attempt. LA would go on to score again, and the game was well out of hand for the stunned Vipers, losing their first home game of the season. As Las Vegas, now 4-5 and tied for 3rd in the division with both Oklahoma and Dallas, looks to the final 7 games of the year, they will move forward with the mullet-wearing Minshew as their QB. Behind him is veteran backup Jeff Tuel and practice squad QB Colby Lowell.
Minshew had built a bit of a cult following in the NFL, as much for his flamboyant personality (and hairstyle) as for his play in Jacksonville. He now inherits a team that is still very much alive for a possible playoff spot. He will have a 2-headed rushing attack of Kareem Hunt and Matt Jones, and a receiving corps of Dobson, Bateman, and newly acquired John Ross, to help him guide the Viper offense. He also will benefit from a pretty solid defense, ranked 9th against the pass and led by DE Matthew Judon and LB Blake Martinez.
Bell X-Rays Negative, Questionable for Week 11
Panther fans got their prayers answered when the results of an MRI came back negative. With LeVeon Bell taken from the field on a cart late in the Panther victory over Chicago, fans and teammates feared the worst. The ankle injury suffered by Bell during an awkward juke-turned-tackle, could have been a season-ender. The news, reported early on Saturday, produced a state-wide sigh of relief. No fractures, no ligament damage, just a significant sprain. Bell is listed as questionable for this week’s game in Arizona, and could be a game time decision, a far better outcome than many feared when Bell went down Friday night. The added down time between the Friday game and this week’s Sunday Night matchup could benefit Bell and the Panthers, allowing for an extra 2 days of healing and testing out of the ankle. If Bell cannot go, Michigan will start Alexander Mattison in his place, with Karlos Williams the backup and likely 3rd down option.
Week 10 and we start to assess where teams are. Obviously no one Is locked in yet, though Tampa bay is certainly the closest to having their ticket punched. Even 0-9 Charlotte is not out of the running with 7 weeks of action left. So, what do we have? We have teams looking very good right now, a group that includes the Bandits, Generals, and Stars in the East and the Machine and Dragons in the West. We have a huge cluster of teams with 6, 5, or 4 wins, so we expect the Wild Card races to be tight all the way until the season ends. But we do think we will start to see some of the teams at the bottom of the standings get that dreaded “-e” next to their names in the coming weeks, starting with the Monarchs and Bulls unless their fortunes turn quickly.
The McGloin injury is the only IR-impacting injury of the week, but that certainly does not mean that all the other teams are injury free. It is getting late enough in the season that we are seeing more and more players placed on the Doubtful and Questionable lists with injuries that are day to day. That includes LeVeon Bell’s ankle, as well as safety Will Harris of Washington, LB Jabril Cox of Memphis, and New England MLB Jamie Collins. The one avoidable absence is that of Tampa Bay WR Ryan Grant, who apparently slept through team meetings on Tuesday, causing Coach Trestman to threaten sitting the veteran and placing him on the injury list for “team violations”.
OUT
QB Matt McGloin LV Shoulder IR
FS Adrian Amos WSH Foot 6-8 Weeks
HB Javonte Williams POR Arm 4-6 Weeks
DT Isaiah Loudermilk ORL Covid Protocol 1 Week
SS Budda Baker HOU Covid Protocol 1 Week
DOUBTFUL
SS Will Harris WSH Ribs
LB Jabril Cox MEM Concussion
SS Marqueston Huff OAK Concussion
G Taylor Moton SAN Hand
C Robert Vega ARZ Shoulder
CB Darnay Holmes SEA Finger
QUESTIONABLE
LB Jamie Collins NE Ribs
DE Matthew Judon LV MCL Strain
DT Josh Boyd SEA Migraines
WR Ryan Grant TBY Team Rule Violations
DT Kendall Reyes MEM Thigh
HB LeVeon Bell MGN Ankle
OT James Hurst PIT Hamstring
Ten Players Using 2021 to Set Up a Huge Deal for 2022 & Beyond
As we look across the league there is not a team that does not have at least 1 superstar player in a contract year. Some are pretty happy where they are, some are already grumbling about their situation, and some are seeing dollar signs in their eyes as they head into contract negotiations. We know from history that many will sign extensions or get new deals with their current teams, but we also know that several will hold off on a deal, hit the free agent waters and see if they cannot get a payday this offseason. So, as we look around the league, here are 10 players who are well-positioned to leverage a strong 2021 into a very lucrative deal, either with their current club or on to greener pastures in free agency. Here are our 10 Players Expecting to Get Paid.
QB Cam Newton (BIR)
Newton is having what may prove to be an MVP year, and with the Stallions actually playing well as a team, there is no better time for their QB to get a top dollar deal. There is no way the Stallions would let Newton walk, not after what he has done this year, so they had better be ready to bust open the vault because he is not going to be a cheap resigning.
HB Christian McCaffrey (OAK)
After his first 1,000-yard season in 2020, McCaffrey is on pace to repeat the feat, and could even surpass 1,200 yards rushing this year. One of the league’s premier dual threat backs, we could see McCaffrey look for a deal in free agency. Oakland will likely be going through a QB transition with Brady expected to retire this offseason, and that may be motivation enough for McCaffrey to look for a club that will both pay him and give him a role in a more established offensive system.
HB Nick Chubb (ATL)
Chubb was a huge part of Atlanta’s rapid rise last year, rushing for 1,205 yards and 8 touchdowns. He is on pace to do the same this year, and Atlanta would be wise to try to resign their star back for the future. There is a lot to like in Atlanta, and Chubb certainly seems happy staying in Georgia, where his college fame paired with his role with the Fire gives him plenty of endorsement clout, but the Fire are a bit cap-constrained and also need to sign QB Aaron Murray along with several linemen. There may well be bigger dollars out there if Chubb waits for free agency.
WR Devin Funchess (MEM)
After a breakout season in 2020 which saw Funchess catch 102 passes for over 1,500 yards and 10 TDs, he has not lived up to the hype in 2021. He is barely on pace for 1,000 yards, will likely fall short of the 100-receptoin mark, and has only 1 TD on the season. That is not good for a player who was hoping to cash in after last year’s success. We suspect Funchess will sign a short deal (1-2 years) in Memphis, hoping to rebound in time to get more in his next deal.
WR Odell Beckham Jr. (NJ)
OBJ was pretty loudly complaining early in the season, but with New Jersey now on a 6-game win streak and QB Nick Foles clearly targeting him early and often each week, we think the fiery receiver might well be happy to stand pat and sign on again with the Generals. That said, if he does hold out for free agency, he will almost certainly get himself a top dollar deal. Receivers with his skill set are a rare breed, and there is no shortage of teams willing to pay diva prices to get diva numbers. We think OBJ will keep his mouth shut as the season winds down, so as not to rule out New Jersey for 2022, but we would not be shocked at all if he waited for Free Agency and then went to the highest bidder.
C Mike Pouncey (CHA)
The best lineman currently unsigned for 2022, and on a team that looks like it is years away from contention, we think Pouncey uses this year to find himself a better option, a chance to move to a club contending for a title. It won’t be about huge dollars, it never is for an interior lineman, but Pouncey will certainly get a pay raise and a chance to contend if he enters the market.
LB Myles Jack (SD)
Another standout player on a pretty lackluster team, Jack’s rookie deal ends this year and we think he will certainly hit the market in hopes of finding a new home and a chance to compete for a title. Now, we know Jack loves Coach LeBeau, so if LeBeau is confirmed for 2022, there is a chance that the athletic linebacker stays put. If the Thunder let LeBeau go, which is possible for what is currently a 3-win team, then we think Jack is going as well.
CB Joe Haden (ARZ)
One of the best corners in the game, and one having a DPOTY type of season, we think Haden will get paid this offseason. We also think his preference would be to stay with Coach Tomsula and a team that has been a contender for over half a decade. Those rings feel awfully good and there are few teams that could offer him as many future opportunities to earn more than Arizona. That said, Arizona has several players they want to retain, including WR Victor Cruz, OT Mitchell Van Dyck, HB Isaiah Crowell, and FS Nate Allen, but if Haden is not top of their list, they are fools.
CB Dee Milliner (ORL)
If Haden does not enter the free agent pool, then we think Dee Milliner is more likely to do so. Milliner would be the top corner available if Haden stays put, and that means a major payday after a pretty modest rookie deal ends this August. Milliner also has a possible coaching change at Orlando (as we will outline below), so a lot could depend on what the Renegades do at the top. If they look to retool, he could look to take the exit ramp. If Coach Moss stays, he might stay as well.
SS Budda Baker (HOU)
Hard to believe Houston would let Baker leave, but with Carlos Hyde, Leodis McKelvin, LB Ramik Wilson, and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster also coming up on contract years, we are just not sure that the All-USFL safety can be their top priority. We cannot imagine they would let any of the others go, but in all honestly, they do not have the funds to keep them all, so who is the odd man out? It won’t be Hyde, unlikely to be McKelvin either, so is it Baker? If it is, he will have no shortage of suitors come free agency.
Five USFL Coaches Who Need Results Now
As we head into the “home stretch” of the season, there are no shortage of teams battling for possible playoff positions, but there are also several teams trying to show that they are building towards future success, and that includes coaches trying to show that they are turning their teams around, creating something that has not fully formed yet, and worthy of another season to get the team headed in the right direction. As we look across the USFL, there are certainly some hot seats where the coach’s future with the team will depend on their clubs showing something in the second half of the year. There is also one coach who is under no pressure to keep his job, but who likely feels the need to do something special in his final year at the helm. We picked 5 coaches who we think are feeling a need to impress in the season’s second half, many with a need to preserve their positions, and one hoping to put an exclamation point on their legacy.
Vance Joseph (CHA)
No surprise that the head coach of an 0-9 team would be on the chopping block if his team cannot show some signs of life this year. Coach Joseph could already be a dead man walking (figuratively, of course) as recent trades seem to indicate that the Monarchs are already building for the future, seeking draft capital while shipping off solid players like WR Justin Blackmon and FB Khari Blasingame. So, what can Joseph do in the final 7 games of the season to potentially be a part of the rebuild instead of a castoff after only 2 years at the helm? Well, a win or two is certainly a bare minimum.
An 0-16 season seems very possible for these Monarchs and that is certainly a job-killer for their coach. Charlotte has some potentially winnable games on the horizon, including this week in Washington, a Week 12 home game against the spiraling Breakers, a Week 14 trip to Jacksonville, and two season-enders against expansion San Antonio and the San Diego Thunder. In fact, their final 7 games feature only 2 teams at or above .500 at this point (LA in Week 13 and Orlando in Week 15). If the Monarchs can show some spirit and pull out 2 or 3 games, Joseph may just get a 3rd year to show development. If not, well, change is likely coming.
Winston Moss (JAX)
The Bulls went out on a limb, trading away a very solid QB in Teddy Bridgewater and going all in on rookie Trevor Lawrence. That move has certainly had some upside, with Lawrence showing flashes, including a current QB Rating of 90.8 and a 16:8 (2:1) TD:INT ratio. The problem is that the early success of Lawrence as a pro QB has not translated into wins. Jacksonville sits at 1-8 after 9 games, with their sole win coming against the winless Monarchs. They will get a rematch with Charlotte in Week 14, but the rest of their schedule does not look favorable, with a trip to 6-3 Birmingham this week and upcoming games against Memphis, Seattle, LA,and Orlando, wins could be tough to find.
So, what is Winston Moss’s best argument for a 3rd season? A couple of upset wins would certainly help, as would going 2-0 in their remaining divisional games (Charlotte and Orlando, both at home). What would likely help even more is an improvement in the league’s 28th rated run game. Rumors have the Bulls looking to give rookie Chubba Hubbard more of a role in their 3-headed attack, along with Singletary and Hardesty. Hubbard is a bigger back, more capable of grinding out yards, but he also has the ability to make a tackler miss, so we may see more of him in early downs as Jacksonville tries to take some pressure off their rookie QB. The other thing ownership will certainly be looking for is more pressure from a front 7 that has simply not gotten to the QB often enough to disrupt opposing offenses. Moss is a former defensive coordinator, and one known for pressure, so the lack of QB sacks and hurries is a clear area of concern. Moss’s best chance at getting a 3rd year may be just as much about proving his defensive qualifications as it is winning late season games. He will be challenged to do that this week as the Bulls face one of the league’s most dynamic QBs in Birmingham’s Cam Newton.
Matt LaFleur (POR)
Considered an offensive “guru’, Matt LaFleur has struggled to get consistent performance from his offense in Portland. Sitting at 2-7, the Stags have put up some good games from a yardage standpoint, and their rankings are not horrible: 7th in passing yards and 12th in total yards, but they are 26th in scoring. The run game which used to be the bread and butter of the Stags has just not produced nearly enough this year. Rookie Javonte Williams was supposed to inject more energy into the run game, but is averaging only 3.5 yards per carry and now may be lost for the year after suffering a shoulder injury against Oakland.
Portland’s defense is adequate, not particularly oppressive, but certainly stiff enough to help the Stags win games, but LaFleur’s offense needs to show more if he wants to return for a 7th season. He got Portland to the playoffs last year at 9-7, and many expected Portland to be a possible contender for the division, so a 2-7 record is a huge disappointment. We think LaFleur needs to start shoing something, even if it is only getting some wins against some of the weaker teams on their schedule. Portland has both games against San Diego yet to play, with their trip to Southern California this week and a rematch in Week 16. The bad news for LaFleur is that every other game on their schedule is against a team with a winning record (Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Arizona, Denver, and LA). They will need to pull some major upsets to avoid a 10-loss season. We think LaFleur needs to get at least 4 more wins. If he goes 6-10 by winning 4 of his final 7, we think he stays. If not, well, there will certainly be some OC positions out there in 2022.
Ron Rivera (ORL)
The Renegades are 5-4 after 9 weeks, and could certainly still be in the mix for a Wild Card. That is the good news. The bad news is that Rivera has two 8-8 seasons under his belt in Orlando and another will feel very much like a stagnating team. So, pretty simple, he needs at least 4 more wins this year, reaching 9-7, and certainly a playoff berth would be a very welcome addition. That seems very possible, with games coming up against both 0-9 Charlotte and 1-8 Jacksonville, as well as expansion New England and slumping New Orleans. That could be 4 wins right there, though certainly an upset win over Tampa Bay, Atlanta or LA would also be very welcome. We think there is a very good chance that Rivera gets himself a 4th season, but the Renegades cannot languish at 8-8 again for that to happen.
Wade Phillips (HOU)
Don’t get us wrong. There is absolutely no one calling for Wade Phillips to step down or lose his job. After all, this is the man who has taken Houston to the postseason each of the past 7 years, including 3 Summer Bowl appearances and a title in 2018. He is a 2-time Summer Bowl Champion, a future Hall of Fame coach, and the longest tenured coach in the league, coming to Houston, where his father was a legend in the NFL, in 2001. No, the reason we added Wade Phillips to this list is that there is widespread expectation that he will retire after this year, and he will want to go out with a bang.
Houston is currently 6-3 and tied atop the Southern Division with upstart Birmingham. Phillips would like nothing better than to win the South once again, and to make a deep playoff run, challenging Tampa Bay for a trip to yet another Summer Bowl. That is the only pressure on Phillips, putting a cherry on top of his amazing career sundae. He certainly has a team capable of doing just that, with Colt McCoy firmly in the MVP conversation, a deep and talented offense, currently ranked 1st overall in yards per game and 4th in scoring, and a defense that has moments (but honestly needs more of them). The upset loss to San Antonio this week is a head scratcher, but with several upcoming games in which Houston should be a prohibitive favorite (@ New England, Memphis and New Orleans, and home to Oklahoma, and Las Vegas) this is certainly a team that can reach 11 or 12 wins. It starts this week with a home game against a very tough Atlanta team, and the Gamblers already have their Week15 trip to Tampa Bay circled as a game of major importance. Can Phillips rally the Gamblers one last time? That is the goal, and it is one shared by every player who loves and respects their head coach.
Hard to believe it is Week 11 already. It seems only yesterday that the season was kicking off. Well, the 11th week of the season is here, and it is the last of the bye weeks, with only San Antonio and Memphis left to wrap up the byes and get back to 15-game weekends. That means we are nearly there this week, with 14 games on the schedule, with only the NBC Saturday Night Game on hiatus. It is also a heavy divisional week, with 8 division games on tap. So, let’s get to it.
Friday opens with a pair of intriguing matchups. On NBC it will be an Eastern Conference clash of contenders as 5-4 Atlanta heads down to 6-3 Houston in a battle of teams with Summer Bowl aspiriations. Meanwhile on ESPN and EFN, it is a huge Southeast clash as Orlando heads to Tampa Bay with upset on their minds. A win by the Renegades would keep them very much alive in the playoff race, while a win by the Bandits largely removes Orlando from divisional consideration.
Saturday features 3 divisional games, with Philly headed up to Foxboro to take on the Steamrollers at noon, Portland heading down the coast to San Diego at 4pm and a really nice nightcap as the two Pacific Division frontrunners meet at Lumen Field. 6-3 Oakland can grab a share of first with a road win, while Seattle could solidify their hold on the division by holding off the Invaders.
Sunday offers 4 more divisional clashes, including a 12pm clash on FOX between Baltimore and New Jersey. This could be the best chance the Blitz have to get back in the divisional title race, but New Jersey has won 6 in a row and are very much invested in making it 7. Then at 4pm we have a pair of divisional clashes that could produce fireworks. Jalen Hurts and his new run game with Eddie Lacy head up to altitude to face the Denver Gold and QB Josh Allen. Chicago is also in division, coming off the tough loss in Michigan they head just a bit south to face the Ohio Glory in Columbus. If Ohio can use home field to get this game, they will greatly improve their odds at a possible division title in a very hard-fought 4-team race in the Central.
We cap it all off at 8pm on ESPN and EFN with a battle of former champions and 5-4 squads that cannot afford to drop too many more games. Michigan, hot off their big homestand against Chicago, heads out to Arizona, where the Wranglers are in unfamiliar territory, looking up at another team above them in the Southwest. A loss, paired with a Denver win, would put them 2 games behind the Gold, a situation they certainly want to avoid at all costs. Should be a great game and a real battle in the week’s final game.
FRI @ 8pm ET Atlanta (5-4) @ Houston (6-3) NBC
FRI @ 8pm ET Orlando (5-4) @ Tampa Bay (8-1) ESPN/EFN
SAT @ 12pm ET Philadelphia (7-2) @ New England (2-7) ABC
SAT @ 12pm ET Jacksonville (1-8) @ Birmingham (6-3) FOX
SAT @ 4pm ET New Orleans (3-6) @ Las Vegas (4-5) ABC
SAT @ 4pm ET Portland (2-7) @ San Diego (3-6) FOX
SAT @ 8pm ET Oakland (6-3) @ Seattle (7-2) ESPN/EFN
SUN @ 12pm ET Charlotte (0-9) @ Washington (3-6) ABC Regional
SUN @ 12pm ET St. Louis (2-7) @ Pittsburgh (6-3) ABC Regional
SUN @ 12pm ET Baltimore (5-4) @ New Jersey (6-3) FOX
SUN @ 4pm ET Oklahoma (4-5) @ Denver (6-3) ABC
SUN @ 4pm ET Chicago (7-2) @ Ohio (5-4) FOX Regional
SUN @ 4pm ET Dallas (4-5) @ Los Angeles (4-5) FOX Regional
SUN @ 8pm ET Michigan (5-4) @ Arizona (5-4) ESPN/EFN
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