2022 USFL Season Preview: Part 1

Back in 1983 no one even dreamed that the USFL could survive the decade, much less be gearing up for its 40^th season in 2022. The league was a brash attempt to do something no one had done before, to set a top tier pro football season in the spring, competing for top draft picks and NFL veterans, not content to be a minor league or to play alongside the NFL in the fall. It was a wild idea, and yet here we are, gearing up for the USFL’s 40^th season, 30 teams strong, and now considered the 2^nd most prosperous sports league in the nation, behind only its’ fall competitor.

In this two-part season preview, we will run through all the stories of the past offseason (Part 1) and get you all the info you need to get ready for the 2022 campaign (Part 2). We will also highlight the 40^th Season special features for our This Week in the USFL weekly recaps and give you a primer for the 2022 Fantasy USFL season. It’s all here, everything you need to help the USFL celebrate its 40^th season and for you to enjoy every moment of spring football.

Our Picks for the Biggest Moves of the Offseason

As it so often is, the story of the 2021-2022 USFL Offseason is all about the players that have left their teams and the players that have arrived to bolster team rosters. From retirements to rookies, NFL imports to free agent signings, it is all about the new mix of talent that each team has in camp and the upgrade or potential downgrade in store for each team. We had our team of experts and superfans rake through every player departure, arrival, and transfer from the offseason and these are the 18 that we see as the potential “High Impact” moves that will play out in 2022.

Hartline & Colston Call Their Careers

Two receivers with a combined 25 years of USFL experience and 11 All-USFL nods between them stepped away from the game after long and illustrious careers, Brian Hartline of Baltimore and Marques Colston, most recently of Charlotte. Both will be potential Hall of Fame candidates in 2026, but for now, their departure means that Baltimore and Charlotte had to prioritize the wide receiver position. 

Charlotte had to double dip, for while Marques Colston was not a major factor for their 2021 team, they also traded Justin Blackmon to Michigan midseason. So, Charlotte was all in on the WR position, and their strategy included using multiple picks on the position. The end result? How about a likely week 1 starter in rookie Drake London? London will be a key figure in his first year, paired with veteran Austin Proehl outside, with Tandon Doss and Calvin Ridley sharing the slot position. 

As for Baltimore, they wanted another speed receiver to pair with Michael Pittman, and they think they have found one in former North Dakota State standout Christian Watson. Watson will initially split snaps with 3^rd year receiver Quez Watkins, while Tutu Atwell and Eli Rogers likely stay in the slot. Expect Watson to have every opportunity to shine, though jumping from FBS football to USFL football will take some time. The corners, for one thing, will be significantly tougher to shake off.

Wisniewski & Clady Departures Force Denver to Rely on Rookie Talent

Josh Allen has to be a bit nervous. With Steve Wisniewski leaving for the NFL and Ryan Clady now retired, protection for Denver’s MVP just got a lot murkier. Yes, they got two outstanding prospects in the draft, Nebraska’s Cam Jurgens at center and Alabama’s Evan Neal at left tackle, but having 2 rookies on your line, and in such pivotal positions means you are putting a lot of trust into your scouts and the film on both players. The good news is that Denver does not run a lot of complex zone reads for the line, preferring a more man-on-man approach. That should help the rookies out, as should having a solid blocking TE in Lance Kendricks and a pair of backs who can chip effectively (David Wilson and Jonathan Ward). But watching how Allen’s protection holds up, especially early in the season, should be a priority for Coach Hufnagel, and for Denver fans as well.

Rosen Looks to Reboot Career in Atlanta

To Say that former UCLA star Josh Rosen’s NFL career did not go as planned feels like an understatement. Drafted 10^th overall in the 2018 draft by Arizona and by San Diego in the USFL’s T-Draft, the UCLA product chose the Cardinals and was named their starter in the preseason. So far, so good. Rosen would start 13 games that season in Arizona, throwing for 2,278 yards, 11 TDs and 14 picks. He was sacked 45 times and looked both unnerved and anxious for much of the year. When the Cardinals drafted Kyler Murray the next year, it was seen as a vote of no-confidence for Rosen. But Murray went to the USFL Express, so Rosen got a second season as the starter in Arizona, but in his second year no one saw the development everyone in Arizona hoped for. Yes, Rosen threw for 3,074 yards and his touchdowns improved to 18, but his picks soared to 24, largely due to protection and decision-making issues. After suffering 45 sacks in his rookie year, he took 63 as a sophomore and was clearly shaken. Arizona traded Rosen to Miami for a pair of 4^th round picks, and in Miami in 2020, Rosen only started 3 games. He would not start a single game this past year but did appear in 4 games.

So, with his NFL career not going where he hoped, Rosen, at the end of his rookie deal, and with little future in Miami, opted to jump leagues, and the Atlanta Fire were happy to add him. Atlanta was hoping to find a young protégé to put behind starter Aaron Murray, and Rosen fit the bill. Rosen understands that he is clearly second fiddle but seems anxious to prove he can make it as a pro quarterback. Considering that Murray spent much of 2021 on Injured Reserve, there is a solid chance that Fire fans will also be hoping the same thing, that Rosen is more than what we saw in the NFL.

Baccari Rambo Returns “Home” to Birmingham

A former Stallion returns home. After leaving the Stallions in 2019, chasing a big money deal to play in nearby Atlanta, Rambo returns to the team that drafted him and made him a star. Rambo signed a 3-year deal to return to Birmingham and take over the Strong Safety position he left vacant 3 years ago. In Atlanta, Rambo had 9 picks and averaged 61 tackles per season, and he hopes to jump back into a Stallion secondary that has struggled (both with and without him) in the past. A bit angry that his presence on the free agent market did not garner the immediate frenzy that we saw with Budda Baker, he was more than happy to return to familiar ground with the Stallions, who are glad to have him back.

Mike Pouncey Becomes a Steamroller

Charlotte tried to retain their All-USFL center, while most of the league felt quite sure that Pouncey would only take offers from teams deemed as potential title contenders, but New England was not daunted. They pursued the 4-time All-USFL center, and in the end that persistence paid off. Pouncey will now anchor an offensive line for Coach Fox and the Steamrollers, one that is pretty talented from tackle to tackle, starting at LT with Matt Peart, with guards Nick Easton and Long Howell, and RT Andre Smith. This is a good group and now they have a veteran and an All-USFL center at the pivot.

Washington Secondary Goes from Pauper to Prince

After 8 very solid seasons in Orlando, Dee Milliner takes his skills, and his 27 career picks, to the Washington Federals, who certainly needed the upgrade in the defensive backfield. Milliner will now join rookie Sauce Gardner, nickel back Nate Hairston, and safeties Kenny Vaccaro and Rafael Bush in what could be the most improved unit in the entire league. Expect the former Orlando corner to take a leadership role from the start, not only during game action but as a mentor to the very talented Gardner. Expect the Feds to shift their defensive strategy, with much more man coverage in 2022 and with a focus on getting to the QB with DE Jerry Hughes lined up next to DT Quinnen Williams, hopefully freeing up Bradley Chubb from the double teams he saw last year. With a solid pass rush and a much-improved secondary, Coach Gilbride may just have to get used to leading a defensive-minded team.

Thibodeaux Gives Portland a Double Quack Sack Attack

In 2013, the Stags felt they pulled off a coup, landing Oregon DE Dion Jordan in the Territorial Draft. The much-coveted edge rusher was considered one of the best of his draft class and the Stags had visions of a one-man wrecking crew. Jordan had 10 sacks as a rookie, and while hopes were high for a Hall of Fame career, in the 8 years since, Jordan has yet to reach double digits a second time. Dubbed a bust by many, the Stags are hoping that the key to getting more out of their 2013 T-Draft “steal” is by bringing in a new T-Draft “steal” on the edge, another duck in Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux. Like Jordan, Thibodeaux was among the highest ranked defensive players in the draft, with Oregon film that shows some devastating moves on the edge and a passion for getting to the quarterback. Did Portland strike gold on their second attempt? Is Thibodeaux the real thing? Can he even help Jordan finally reach his potential? There is a lot riding on the selection and the ability for the Stags to hit opponents with a Double Quack Attack.

Orlando Adds Lightning & Thunder to Backfield

The Renegades did a lot of things well in 2021, finishing with an 11-5 record and playing their way to the Eastern Conference Championship, but running the ball was certainly not one of their strong suits. Yes, NFL import Chris Carson had a solid year, rushing for 974 yards and 6 scores, but all too often when the run game had to be there, it came up short. Coach Rivera made a more dangerous, “multiple” and diversified rushing attack a priority this season, and he believes he now has what he needs to move his club to the top 3^rd of the league in rushing after adding two very respected NFL imports, a change of pace and 3^rd down weapon in former Bear Tarik Cohen, and one of the fall league’s best blocking backs in former Raven Patrick Ricard.

The signings, both in the past 2 weeks, give Orlando a very different, and very NFL-heavy backfield. Carson, last year’s import, remains the lead back, but expect to see Cohen often as a changeup pitch, with both backs benefitting from the lead blocking of Ricard. Orlando will very likely try to establish themselves as a run-first team as soon as the season kicks off, a move that could prove very beneficial to QB Russell Wilson in a year when he needs to prove that he can play within himself and cut down his drive-killing interception issues.

 

Wilson, London, and Williams Highlight USFL WR Draft Class

The USFL Draft, as it so often is, proved to be a mixed bag for teams across the league, with the NFL, as one expects, pulling just over 50% of all draftees towards the senior fall league. But one area where the USFL’s reputation paid off was at the WR position. With a well-earned reputation as a “passing league”, the USFL attracted many of the draft’s most highly rated receivers, including 4 who were selected in the NFL’s first round.

The haul was led by the Charlotte Monarchs, who cut a deal with LA to get exclusive USFL rights to woo USC’s Drake London. Woo they did and now we can expect to see London as one of Paxton Lynch’s primary targets in Charlotte. Ohio had 2 All-Big-10 receivers to select when their T-Draft choices came up. They had both sounded out and decided not to double down, drafting only Chris Olave and allowing Garrett Wilson to enter the Open Draft. The move turned out better for the USFL than for the Glory, as Olave opted to sign with the NFL Saints, while Wilson was chosen early in the 1^st round of both USFL and NFL drafts, but preferred to join the more stable QB situation with the San Antonio Gunslingers than the constant 3-ring QB circus found with the NY Jets.

When you add in additional NFL first rounders Jameson Williams (signed by the Chicago Machine) and Treylon Burkes (signed by Memphis), along with other top receivers like NDSU’s Christian Watson (Blitz), John Metchie III (Stallions), and Alec Pierce (Skyhawks), the USFL ended up landing 8 of the top 14 receivers in the draft, which is just a sign that players and their agents know that a receiver can do very well in a league that made its name with the vertical passing game and has rarely strayed from aerial assault as its calling card.

Devin Funchess Replaces Newhouse in Seattle

Speaking of aerial attacks, the defending USFL Western Conference Champions, were not going to sit still after losing 9 TDs, 941 yards, and 72 receptions in the form of WR Marshall Newhouse to the NFL. Newhouse, who signed on for 3 years with the NFL Houston Oilers, left a pretty large hole opposite Amari Cooper in the Dragon offense, and the Dragons got to work quickly to fill it, signing a 2020 All-USFL receiver in former Showboat Devin Funchess. Funchess had a breakout season in his sophomore campaign, catching 102 passes for 1,547 yards and 10 touchdowns, but with a surprisingly less effective passing attack in 2021, Funchess’s numbers, like everyone else’s in Memphis, went south. The talented receiver dropped from 102 catches to 79, saw his yards per catch drop from 14.2 to 10.4 and managed only 1 touchdown in the entire 2021 campaign. But, for Seattle, the issue was not Funchess’s talents, it was the Memphis offense and the inability to get the ball towards their young receiver.

Jumping on Funchess’s poorly-timed free agency bid, Seattle made an offer below market value (based on recent years), and with the prospect of playing for a Summer Bowl contender, as well as a stable QB situation in Seattle (With Patrick Lynch also a free agent from Memphis this year), the Showboat receiver signed on the dotted line and immediately made Coach Riley feel better about his passing attack.

Hall & Cook Aim for ROTY as Likely Week 1 Starters

While not nearly as deep a pool as the WR group, the 2022 College Draft also proved to be a potential boon for the USFL. Four of the top 8 backs, if draft rankings can be trusted, found themselves preparing for spring football this February, instead of attending NFL minicamps. Among the most intriguing of the USFL signings are Iowa State’s Breece Hall, another player who wanted to avoid a forced trip to the NY Jets and instead signed on with Coach John Fox and the very intriguing New England Steamrollers. New England, now in their 3^rd year in the USFL, has managed to improve their roster every year and could very well see Hall as a key piece of what could be a very competitive team in 2022. 

The other back who almost certainly will get a real chance to be a lead back and a ROTY candidate is Georgia’s James Cook, who was chosen by Jacksonville in the USFL first round, and opted for sunny Florida over frigid Buffalo. Cook will be the Week One starter for the Bulls and hopes to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, now a two-time champion with in-state rival Tampa Bay. And in addition to Hall and Cook, we should all expect to see plenty of carries from Ohio’s rookie addition, Kenneth Walker II out of nearby Michigan State, as well as ASU rookie Rachaad White with the Chicago Machine and BYU’s Tyler Allgeier, just down I-15 from Provo to Phoenix with the Arizona Wranglers.

Kirk & Ebron Provide Weapons for Trevor Lawrence

After discussing Jacksonville’s addition of a top draft choice at halfback, we should also highlight how Coach Vrabel is putting weapons around his 2021 T-Draft star, QB Trevor Lawrence. In addition to Cook, the Bulls added a proven weapon at wideout, bringing Christian Kirk over from the NFL, and a reliable safety valve for Lawrence in TE Eric Ebron, formerly with Birmingham. Add these three new pieces to a rising star in WR Tee Higgins, and a true Swiss army knife at Tight End, Fullback, H-Back, and even QB, in Taysom Hill, and the Bulls are giving their young QB a very intriguing supporting cast.

Pickett To Pittsburgh Puts Pressure on Dalton

After an offseason that saw its fair share of rumors that Andy Dalton was being shopped around, the 2022 USFL Draft seemed to do everything but make the move happen. Dalton is still a Mauler, but we cannot promise it will be for long after the Steel City’s “Spring Steelers” selected and signed Pitt QB Kenny Pickett to a 4-year deal worth $400k more per year than Dalton’s current deal. It may not happen right away, but at some point the Maulers are going to have to send their new investment into action, and if Dalton struggle this year, as he did last year, going down the stretch with a truly groan-worthy losing streak that cost Pittsburgh a playoff appearance, we think it will be a quick hook and an early shot for Pickett to claim the starter’s position.

With Mauler Nation having largely turned on Dalton since his high-water mark season of 2015, when he threw for 47 touchdowns and led the Maulers to a 13-3 season, and Pickett being a “hometown” player in the Steel City gives him a lot of momentum and a lot of buy-in from the often-fickle Pittsburgh fanbase. If we had to pick any player who could be a Week 10 trade deadline mover, we think Dalton may be that player. You can bet that if Pickett is starting and a fellow USFL club loses their starter to injury, they will be on the phone with the Maulers.

By the way, don’t tell the USFL League Office that we used the local term “Spring Steelers” to describe the Maulers, both they and the Mauler higher ups hate when fans do that. Something about making the USFL the “younger brother”, which, to be honest, in most markets it is. We think it is fun, and the two teams are very much like a big brother, younger brother for fans, so why fight it?

Carr Retirement Brings Familiar Face Back to Wranglers

Another QB story, though one that is less a competition than a changing of the guard. When David Carr announced his retirement after a solid, but disappointing 2022 campaign, his 17^th in the league, Wrangler fans were resigned to what could be a long rebuilding phase. After all, it is not every year that you can walk out your door and find a future Hall of Famer at QB. But, if the Wranglers are going to need time to find their next franchise QB, the one thing they could do is bring someone to town who has already proven he can play in Tomsula’s system, and that someone was former Wrangler Ryan Nassib.

Nassib, who parlayed a brilliant 2018 season into a 4-year, $48M deal with the Washington Federals, was the player that fans wanted back. And with Washington not seeing anything like the 32-TD, 3,900-yard performance that Nassib put on in 2018, they were not only open to discussions, but they were also eager to save their salary cap and fully embrace Jacoby Brissett as their starter by dealing the former Wrangler. Tomsula was, as you would expect, happy to be able to get a new starter who already had a very good sense of his system, with Nassib having spent 2 years on the Wrangler bench before an injury to Carr set him up for his surprising 2018 breakout season.

The deal took just over 6 months to accomplish, with Arizona first drafting QB Desmond Ridder out of the University of Cincinnati. But, when Ridder opted to join the NFL Falcons, the Wranglers immediately got on the phone and pulled the trigger to bring Nassib back to the desert. As of today, the prodigal QB has to be the favorite to start in Week 1, though Brock Osweiler also had his moments in relief in recent years. Of course, if Nassib again shines for Tomsula, folks in Washington are going to be beside themselves trying to figure out what went wrong in D.C., but for Wrangler fans, a chance to return to 2018 certainly has to feel better than the concept of a years-long search for a new QB.

Dallas Adds 2 Dynamic LBs to Defense

Let’s be honest. Despite the presence of 12-year veteran Clay Matthews, the Dallas LB group in 2021 was nothing to write home about. They were a little too slow, a little too late on coverage, and a little too predictable in blitz packages. They needed an infusion of speed and danger. So, when the team allowed their captain, Matthews, to explore free agency, eventually landing with the NFL Rams, you had a sense that Coach Kingsbury was hoping to shake things up and bring a new feel to the LB room.

Well, if early indications are to be trusted, he has certainly done that. The Dallas training camp has been abuzz with reports of a new, more aggressive, more blitz-oriented LB group, and, in particular with the dynamic play of the club’s two newest linebackers. Early in the offseason, Dallas scored a huge win, beating out at least 6 other teams to sign former San Diego Thunder OLB Myles Jack. That was exciting enough for Roughneck Nation, but when they jumped into this past month’s NFL-USFL Transfer Window to nab DE/LB Za’Darius Smith from the Packers, well, you could feel the DFW area hit a new level of excitement. The Roughnecks now boast two of the best pass-rushing outside linebackers in the game. Smith and Jack will create nightmare schemes for offenses who already have to account for DE Connor Barwin. And while the MLB position is still in flux (Will Melvin Ingram move inside? Or will it be 5-year backup Samson Ebukam getting the nod?) we have to believe that the Roughnecks are going to make life very difficult for opposing passers, and not too easy for any halfback who wants to hit the outside edge of their line. Keep your eyes on the Roughneck defense this year, it could be a really fun watch.

Panthers Win Battle of Detroit for Hutchinson

This seems to happen a lot between the USFL and the NFL, we get two teams in the same market battling for a shared draft pick. We saw it last year with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the USFL Bulls, both selecting Trevor Lawrence. That was a battle won by the spring league’s Bulls, but every year it seems like we see the story repeat. Whether it is the Machine vs. the Bears, the Express vs. the Chargers, the Bandits vs. the Bucs, or the Breakers vs. the Saints, with so many teams sharing stadiums, cities, and fanbases, having both clubs select the same high-value draft pick seems like a simple matter of course.

Well, this year’s debate had an even more intriguing angle in that the player in question, DE Aidan Hutchinson, was not just the draft pick of both of Ford Field’s occupants, the USFL Panthers and the NFL Lions, but was also moving just a few miles down the road from Ann Arbor, a Wolverine making his debut as a pro in the Motor City. And so, the two leagues and the two teams went head-to-head once again, and for the second year in a row, the USFL came out on top, with the Panthers signing Hutchinson to a 4-year deal and locking down the most coveted Wolverine in the draft pool. Hutchinson, who led Michigan with a school record 14 sacks in 2021, came in second in the Heisman voting, and won both the Ted Hendricks and Lombardi Award, opted to join a Panther team that was playoff bound in 2021 despite putting up a league low 30 sacks on the season. Don’t expect Michigan to finish last in that category in 2022. Hutchinson, who is likely to split duty on the D-Line and with the LB group in Michigan’s shifting 3-4, 4-3, and 3-3-5 system, is almost certainly going to challenge incumbent Dee Ford and 2021 rookie Kwity Paye to rack up the most sacks this year. We think he has a real chance to do more than that, possibly leading the pack for the defensive ROTY award as he helps the Panthers improve what was already a pretty solid defense.

SS Budda Baker Signs with Arizona

Budda Baker may never win the Miss America Pageant, but for 2 months this past Fall he got to learn what it is like to be the Belle of the Ball. A consensus All-USFL safety with both ball hawking and big hitting skills up and down his resume, Baker was the focus of nearly every USFL GM’s attention when Free Agency opened in August. He stayed on the market long enough for NFL GM’s to make their pitch as well, but when he was ready to put his pen to paper and become the league’s best-paid safety (only $250k per year lower than top CB Stephon Gilmore of LA), Baker opted to stay in the spring, and to move to the Valley of the Sun as a new member of the Arizona Wranglers.

Baker will join a defense that already has several big names on it, including CB Joe Haden, DE Bud DuPree, and DT Jason Hargrave. He also joins a team led by one of the nation’s best defensive gurus, Coach Jim Tomsula. All this plus a hefty paycheck each week, that is a pretty good deal for Baker, and a fitting end to his reign as Miss America of the football world.

OBJ Drags it Out Before Joining Chicago

Speaking of Divas, always ready for a photo op, we could not finish our recap of big offseason moves without commenting on the long, winding path that led Odell Beckham Jr. from New Jersey to Chicago. The 3-time All-USFL receiver was like a fox among hounds all offseason, leading teams from both the USFL and NFL on a merry chase through the forest. He weaved, he dodged, he enticed and then disappeared. All the while he and his agent kept bemoaning the inability of teams to make real offers, he turned away one deal after another. He wanted to be with a winner, which made approaches by WR-needy teams like Charlotte, St. Louis, San Antonio, and the NFL Browns, Cardinals, and Jets futile gestures. He also wanted the kind of money that could blow up a salary cap, so that ruled out several others. He toyed with the Dallas Cowboys for a while, teased the Oakland Invaders, but eventually got what he wanted, a 3-year deal that makes him the highest paid wideout this season (a balloon payment in Dez Bryant’s contract will steal back the title in 2023).

And so, OBJ, the ultimate WR Diva and Master of GM Frustration finds himself at home in Chicago, with a pretty solid QB in Sam Bradford, a team that looks like a potential Summer Bowl contender, and a young charge to “mentor” in budding star Chase Claypool. Don’t call them Batman and Robin but expect this dynamic duo to be a huge story in Gotham, err, Chicago, as the 2022 season gets underway.

As we have all come to learn over the past 4 decades of USFL football, the annual College Draft is only half of the picture when it comes to new talent coming to the league. The signing period, with its inevitable battles between the NFL and the USFL is as much a factor in how teams bring in collegiate talent. So while our draft recap is a big step towards understanding which players will impact the USFL each season, it is now, after nearly all players have made their choice and signed on for either fall or spring football that we can really see who we should be keeping an eye on and who could help their team in the upcoming season. So, here we go, with 10 players who could have immediate impact, 10 who got away and how teams are coping, and 10 who may be long term investments even if they don’t see a lot of action in 2022.

Ten Biggest Signings with Immediate Impact

DE Aiden Hutchinson (Panthers)

An immediate upgrade to the Panthers’ league worst sack production from 2021. Hutchinson, paired with Dee Ford and Kwity Paye, could blossom into a very dangerous rotation.

CB Sauce Gardner (Federals)

With the addition of Gardner as well as veteran Dee Milliner, the Feds now have a secondary that can hang with pretty much any WR group in the league.

DE Kayvon Thibodeaux (Stags)

Portland is going to pair Thibodeaux with Dion Jordan to try to build a 1-2 threat on the edge. There is already a lot of pressure on the newest Stag to live up to the hype after Jordan failed to do so.

WR Drake London (Monarchs)

It is rare that a wideout enters the league as a presumptive primary target, but that is certainly the situation for London as he joins the Monarchs. Expect a lot of double coverage as teams just won’t respect the other Charlotte receivers.

WR Garrett Wilson (Gunslingers)

Wilson pairs with Brandon LaFell to produce a duo capable of fully actualizing the vertical passing game that both QB Joe Flacco and Head Coach Chuck Long prefer.

LB Quay Walker (Fire)

Walker has earned a starting slot in camp with Atlanta and is able to learn alongside one of the league’s best, MLB Luke Kuechley.

HB Breece Hall (Steamrollers)

Hall will share carries with former Bull Devin Singletary, at least at first, but we expect that Coach Fox will want to see just how much Hall’s breakaway speed can help New England push more chunk plays and shorten drives.

HB Kenneth Walker III (Glory)

With Isaiah Pead now in Birmingham, Walker has a chance to lock down the lead back role as a rookie. His main competition will be 2^nd year back Trey Sermon.

TE Trey McBride (Stallions)

Coach Haley has had nothing but praise for McBride and we expect him to be used as a primary weapon by the Stallions, not just as a security blanket for Newton.

HB James Cook (Bulls)

The Bulls have a very dynamic 1-2 combo of young backs with Cook joining 2^nd year back Chubba Hubbard in what will likely be a regular rotation.

---

Ten Who Got Away and How USFL Clubs Will Cope

DE Travon Walker (Express)

Losing out on Walker was a big blow to the Express, who gave up 2 key picks (1^st in Open and in Territorial Draft) to secure his USFL rights. His absence means that it will be Chris Jones inside and Nick Bosa outside once again, with a weaker right side.

CB Derek Stingley Jr (Breakers)

The Breakers wanted Stingley to balance the defensive backfield opposite Tra’Davious White but will remain largely unbalanced as they must hope Xavier Crawford can improve his coverage this season.

WR Chris Olave (Glory)

Maybe Ohio should have protected both Olave and Garrett Wilson in the T-Draft after all. Losing out on Olave means that Terry McLaurin will likely continue to see a lot of double coverage.

WR Jahan Dotson (Monarchs)

We see Dotson as a “double down” pick in case Charlotte could not sign Drake London. With London on board, losing Dotson to the NFL has far less impact.

C Tyler Linderbaum (Skyhawks)

This was an odd pick to begin with, particularly because 2021 starter Rudy Niswanger was a 2^nd Team All-USFL performer. We think the goal was to use either Linderbaum or Niswanger as trade bait, so that just did not happen.

WR George Pickens (Fire)

Atlanta has had a pretty solid passing offense (when Aaron Murray is healthy) so we don’t think they will suffer for losing out on Pickens. They still have A. J. Green and Kelvin Benjamin locking down the 2 outside positions.

DE Sam Williams (Bandits)

Folks who worry that Tampa Bay could pull off the threepeat are happy for any negatives they can find, but within Bandit circles, losing out on Williams has folks worried that the pass rush will be far too reliant on blitzes, putting the secondary under pressure.

QB Desmond Ridder (Wranglers)

It seems clear that getting a talented rookie was Plan A for the Wranglers, who really liked what they saw in Ridder. Losing out to the NFL all but forced the Wranglers hand, pushing them to make a deal with Washington for Ryan Nassib and hoping that they can revive the Nassib we all saw in 2018 and not the one we saw the past two years in D.C.

LB Terrel Bernard (Gamblers)

Outside of Ramik Wilson, there is not a lot of hype about the Gambler LB group. Bernard would have been a nice addition and without him the Gamblers look quite thin in one of the key groups on the team.

DE Josh Paschal (Stars)

The Stars signed Robert Quinn in free agency, so while Paschal would have been a nice addition, and certainly would have improved team depth on the edge, his absence is not likely to produce major concerns.

---

Ten 2022 Rookies Who May Blossom Late

HB Jordan Mason (Stags)

Tucked in behind 2^nd year back Javontae Williams and veteran Doug Martin, we don’t think Mason will get a lot of touches in 2022, but Martin is 33 and could well be out of football by 2023, giving Mason a chance to move up the depth chart.

LB Jake Cochrane (Invaders)

Cochrane is set up as a swing linebacker right now, which means perhaps 10-15 snaps per game, but we think he will work his way into more packages over the course of the season.

TE Jake Tonges (Houston)

When you back up both Gerald Everett and Tony Moeaki, you cannot expect too many passes thrown your way, but Tonges could be a factor as a run blocker and in special teams.

QB Brock Purdy (Steamrollers)

New England’s trade of Jameis Winston gives the late round QB pick a spot on the roster, but even if Ryan Tannehill struggles, we think it will be C. J. Beathard getting the call before Purdy ever sees the field, at least this year.

S Elijah Hicks (Invaders)

Hicks currently sits on the practice squad, but can play either safety spot, so if there are injuries at either position, we could see Hicks on the sideline and on the field.

HB Isaiah Pacheco (Generals)

Another current practice squad player, Pacheco impressed New Jersey coaches in camp but just could not overtake the trio of C. J. Prosise, Tony Pollard, and fellow rookie Kyren Williams.

C Dawson Deaton (Gunslingers)

Deaton backs up Michal Menet but could also see action at guard if the Gunslingers suffer any injuries on the interior.

CB Ja’Sir Taylor (Roughnecks)

Taylor surprised many by beating out Lee Keyser for the nickel spot on the Roughnecks. The rookie will be tested by USFL slot receivers, but that is what a nickel always faces.

WR Jalen Nailor (Thunder)

A mid round pick out of Michigan State, Nailor will likely start on special teams, as he has a lot of known entities ahead of him on the Thunder WR depth chart.

HB Tyler Allgeier (Wranglers)

The former BYU back will rotate carries with Peyton Barber, but only when Ka ’Deem Carey needs a breather. That could mean just a handful of snaps per game, though we think in the end it will be Allgeier who gets most of the late season calls when a sub is needed.

The past three weeks have seen the NFL-USFL Transfer window re-open, and it will stay open for one more week, so we may not be done yet, but with all 30 USFL camps wrapping up and the regular season ready to start, we expect that for the most part the rosters across the league are as set as they will ever be. So, how did the transfer portal go this year? Very well in some areas, a bit slow in others. Here is our breakdown of the big stories coming out of the window so far.

QB Market Dries Up

What looked like an intriguing QB market, with 2 of the 5 top-rated QBs from the Class of 2018 included (Josh Rosen and Baker Mayfield), along with former NFL All-Pro DeShaun Watson, and two rising names in Garrett Gilbert and Davis Webb, turned out to be a bit of a dud, with only one player, Josh Rosen, making the jump from the NFL to the USFL. Mayfield, considered perhaps the most talented player in the pool, opted to sign on with the NFL Carolina Panthers. Garrett Gilbert joined the Las Vegas Raiders and Davis Webb returned to the NY Giants after shopping around for only 8 days. Perhaps the biggest name in the bunch, former Houston Oiler DeShaun Watson, mired in a bevvy of sexual assault charges that kept USFL teams at arm’s length, somehow convinced the NFL Cleveland Browns to cough up $230M over five years. We spoke with several USFL GM’s and they all seem to agree that Watson was too much of a risk, and that the price tag was far outside the realm of the realistic. Well, the Browns are the Browns, so best of luck to them. The USFL opted to steer clear.

Import Backs & Receivers Hope to Avoid Twin Season Slump

While the QB position did not produce many fireworks, the same could not be said for other “skill” positions, with both HB and WR producing a good number of NFL to USFL jumps. Among the receivers making the jump were two rising stars, both perhaps a bit undervalued by their current NFL teams but of great interest to the USFL. Christian Kirk opted to leave the Arizona Cardinals and their unsolved QB problem to land in Jacksonville, where Trevor Lawrence offers him a very stable and potentially very productive opportunity. Former Jacksonville Jaguar wideout D. J. Chark was a breakout player in 2019, but has suffered through two injury-plagued seasons since. He played in only 4 games in 2021, but now says he is finally back from lingering injuries and is ready to help the Birmingham Stallions. Expect Chark to split time between the slot and the outside, acting as a swing receiver for all 3 positions, though he likely will be challenged for snaps by Alabama rookie John Metchie. The other import worth watching is in Chicago, where former Steeler Ray-Ray McCloud will almost certainly take on punt and kick return duties with occasional work in the slot as well.

There are three halfbacks to keep an eye on as they follow their 2021 NFL season with a new club in the USFL. The first, and perhaps most likely to have a breakout year, is former Bear Tarik Cohen. Orlando snapped up the Bears’ HB on the 2^nd day of the window and hopes to use him as a nice change of pace for lead back Chris Carson. Cohen is a solid receiver as well as a shifty runner, so expect him to take on some 3^rd down duties, along with returning Renegade Boston Scott. In San Antonio, they are very excited about their 3-man HB group, having added speedster Raheem Mostert to the mix along with NFL veteran Melvin Gordon and 2021 rookie Rhamondre Stevenson. There is a diverse set of skills among the three, with Mostert clearly the speedster of the trio, and the player most likely to see action on 3^rd and long as well as on return teams. Finally, Michigan wanted a bruiser to back up LeVeon Bell, and they think they found one in former Falcon Ito Smith. Smith is not going to blow past anyone, but if you want a back who is going to grind out tough yards and possibly vulture some short yardage plays, helping LeVeon Bell stay fresh, Smith could well do the trick.

Others to Watch in 2022

Outside of the offensive “sizzle” players, there were several other NFL imports who we will be tracking this season. On defense we have safety Jayron Kearse, who left the Cowboys for the Wranglers, CB J. C. Jackson, who left the Patriots to join the Gold, DT Bilal Nichols, who joins Oakland after starting his career with the NFL Bears, safety Landon Collins, who makes his way from Washington to San Diego, joining the Thunder. But perhaps the two most promising defensive signings are the Bandits’ addition of LB Lorenzo Carter, formerly of the NY Giants, and Dallas’s signing of LB Za’Darius Smith from the Packers. Both are outstanding players, with huge upside and we expect both to see a lot of snaps in 2022. Others on our radar include TE Mike Gesicki, who leaves the Miami Dolphins for a spot on the Baltimore Blitz, guard Alex Cappa (TBY to BIR), FB Patrick Ricard (BAL to ORL), andsafety Quandre Diggs (Seahawks to Dragons in Seattle).

As for late NFL signings, there were a few, with the most noteworthy being WR Aurrelious Benn (SD to NFL Bears), veteran FS Nate Allen (ARZ to NFL Eagles), much-maligned Monarch QB Jimmy Garoppolo (to the LV Raiders), and well-traveled wideout/return man Cordarelle Patterson, from San Antonio to the NFL Steelers.

Early Picks for the Hall of Fame Class of 2026

With every retirement class there is the base of the Hall of Fame class five years later. For the voters in 2026, this year’s class of recent retirements will likely produce a very difficult process as the deep pool of talent will almost certainly cost someone a shot at a first ballot entry and someone else an undeserved snub over their 4 years of eligibility. Looking at the potential first year nominees in 2026, we see a lot of tough calls to be made.

QB David Carr (ARZ 2009-21)

Let’s see here, a 2-time MVP, 2-time Playoff MVP, 6-Time All-USFL nominee, and a 3-time league champion with 40,000 yards, 314 career touchdowns, and a lifetime QB rating of 101.2. Yeah, we think Carr is a no brainer for first ballot induction.

QB Tom Brady (NJ 2000-06, OAK 2020-21)

Brady is going to be another dual league entrant, as Kurt Warner was. After 7 seasons in the USFL, including 2 league titles and 2 playoff MVP trophies, Brady spent 13 seasons in the NFL, winning 3 more pro football titles with the Dallas Cowboys, before finishing his career with 2 years in Oakland. His stats, split between the two leagues, make him a solid contender, but his success as a leader, with 5 championships, is what will get him the joint nomination.

WR Marques Colston (TEX/OKL 2006-17, SD 2018-20, CHA 2021)

The consummate “straight line” receiver, Colston made a career in Texas with just the fly route. Yes, he did more, but he will always be considered one of the best at that simple, but hard-to-complete route. Colston retires with 17,723 yards and 106 career touchdowns. Is that enough to get him in his first year? Any other year we would likely say yes. With this group we cannot be sure.

OT Levi Brown (2007-21)

Fourteen years, six All-USFL awards, and 3 league titles are all we really need to say for the Bandit’s QB bodyguard. Throw in over 1,300 career pancakes and you have a very strong case that Brown may well be a first year, first ballot candidate.

OT Ryan Clady (2008-21)

Another outstanding left tackle, Clady will struggle in comparison with Brown simply because the Gold have not been as good as the Bandits during his career. Still, with 902 career pancakes and with Clady’s role in the Denver run game, we think he makes it in his 2^nd or 3^rd year for sure.

LB Brian Orakpo (TBY 2014-18, PIT 2019-21)

Eight years in the USFL with four more in the NFL is a very nice pro career, but the mid-career switch means that Orakpo may not have the stats, or the longevity, for either league to vote him in. Dual inductees are extremely rare, which is unfortunate, because Orakpo has been more than a good player over his career, he has been a model leader and teammate as well.

FS LaRon Landry (NSH/LV 2007-15, OHI 2016-21)

You do not play 15 seasons as a safety in the USFL without racking up some numbers, and Landry certainly has, with 1,542 career tackles, 40 career sacks, 17 picks, and 223 career stats, but with no titles will Landry’s 4 All-USFL nominations be enough?

CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie (LA 2008-13, JAX 2014-20, LA 2021)

14 USFL seasons, 1,879 tackles, 49 picks, and over 4,000 yards as a kick returner. Those are some solid numbers for the former Express and Bull starter, but with only 2 All-USFL nods and quite a few seasons on some really bad teams, we think DRC does not get the invite. There just is not enough team success to have him stand out in a sea of very good corners produced by the USFL.

---

Schedule Highlights for 2022

As we transition from looking at the offseason that was to looking ahead to the season to come, we start with a look at one game each week which should be on everyone’s “Don’t Miss It” list. From division rivalry games to young stars facing off, all the way to final week play-in games, the 17-week 2022 season will have must-see games each and every weekend. So, with that in mind, here is our look at 17 games in 17 weeks.

Week One: Ohio Glory @ Jacksonville Bulls

A matchup of two of the most exciting young QBs in the league. It’s the pocket presence of Lawrence vs. the scramble skills of Fields in what could be a wild season opener.

Week Two: Oakland Invaders @ Portland Stags

A Pacific Division showdown between two teams hoping to start the season right, with Portland hoping that rookie DE Tayvon Thibodeaux can rattle 2^nd year QB Davis Mills.

Week Three: Seattle Dragons @ Michigan Panthers

Two very strong teams top to bottom face off in this early season Western Conference showdown. We also get to watch two of the league’s best halfbacks as 2022 rushing champ Knowshon Moreno faces off against perennial league leader LeVeon Bell.

Week Four: Arizona Wranglers @ Dallas Roughnecks

We stay out West one more week, with this divisional matchup that features several of the biggest defensive acquisitions of the offseason, with new Roughneck Myles Jack and new Wrangler Budda Baker both hoping to make life tough for the offenses.

Week Five: New Orleans Breakers @ Birmingham Stallions

We head down south for a battle between the Stallions and Breakers. New Orleans was not the team we expected last year, but Geno Smith and the Breaker offense hope to rebound in 2022 while Birmingham hopes some defensive additions can help keep them atop the division.

Week Six: Houston Gamblers @ Tampa Bay Bandits

This one should be fun, a barnburner between two of the best offenses in football. Colt McCoy, Carlos Hyde, Mike Evans and the Gamblers travel to Tampa Bay to take on Dak Prescott, Dalvin Cook, and Dez Bryant in a game that may well have the highest Over-Under of the season.

Week Seven: Orlando Renegades @ Tampa Bay Bandits

No rest for the 2-Time Defending Champs as they follow up their huge game against Houston by hosting division rival and top challenger Orlando. Can Montez make Prescott Sweat? Can the Renegades rein in the Bandits and keep the season close? This one could be huge in the East.

Week Eight: Michigan Panthers @ Ohio Glory

A classic division rivalry that harkens to a century of Michigan-Ohio State clashes as well. Can former Wolverine Aidan Hutchinson slow down former Buckey Justin Fields, or will the Glory come out on top in Columbus?

Week Nine: Denver Gold @ Arizona Wranglers

Back out West, to the Southwest more precisely, as division rivals Denver and Arizona renew their 40-year feud. It will be Josh Allen against Budda Baker, and that rookie-laden Gold line against Bud DuPree and the Wrangler D.

Week Ten: Chicago Machine @ Michigan Panthers

Another huge clash in the Central as the Panthers host 2021 Division Champion Chicago. Can Sam Bradford take advantage of his new weapon, OBJ, or will Dre Kirkpatrick welcome the former General to the division with true shut down corner style?

Week Eleven: Michigan Panthers @ Tampa Bay Bandits

The Panthers have a tough follow up, leaving home after their clash with Chicago to face the Bandits in what will likely be the first of many late season standing-shifters. This one will be a game to catch for sure as it is the ground & pound Panthers facing Bandit Ball.

Week Twelve: Memphis Showboats @ Birmingham Stallions

We don’t know what the standings will say about these two Southern Division rivals by Week 12, but what we do know is that this game will be an excuse for a tailgate to die for, that and that the two teams will honestly be at each other’s throats all game.

Week Thirteen: New Jersey Generals @ Philadelphia Stars

Another great rivalry, and what could be a huge game for the NE Division title. Neither team is glitzy, neither is a high glamour team in the USFL, but both have grit and a will to work hard, and that will come out in what could be a very tight matchup.

Week Fourteen: Tampa Bay Bandits @ Atlanta Fire

We are back with the Bandits, and why not? Their battles with Atlanta have been some of the league’s most entertaining games over the past 2 years. Atlanta is hoping 2022 is a rebound season, and this game could go a long way to making it so.

Week Fifteen: Philadelphia Stars @ Denver Gold

A rare interconference game on our list, but one which could well have huge playoff implications this late in the year. Can the Stars steal a win out west, or is the attitude and the altitude of the Gold going to be too much for them?

Week Sixteen: Seattle Dragons @ Houston Gamblers

We fully expect that this West v. East clash will look a lot like a possible Summer Bowl preview, with both teams needing this win for playoff position, possibly for a shot at the top seed in their conferences. Should be a true clash of titans.

Week Seventeen: Dallas Roughnecks @ Denver Gold

For the final week of the season we looked at the schedule and asked “Which game looks like a possible Win & In, Lose & Out game for both teams?” This one, right? Both teams could be on the fringe, perhaps even battling for a final playoff spot. We think this will be a key game in the playoff picture, and that means it will be a game where both teams leave everything on the field.

In Part 2 of our USFL Season Preview, we will go team by team, giving you the players to watch, the best and worst of each team, and take a look at the new coaches across the league and what to expect from each. Of course, we will also have our picks for the year, and our insights into all the Week 1 action, now only days away. It is all coming up next as we prepare for Season 40 of the USFL.