Now, the fledgling league will try to make it again and do what the AAF (2019) and XFL (2020) couldn’t do. It will hope to become a spring-league football staple.
The USFL is set to begin its 10-game, 12-week schedule in April, but first the teams had to set their rosters. They did so during the 2022 USFL Draft, which took place over two days in February, the 22nd and 23rd.
MORE: USFL Draft time, player pool, pick order & more
The 2022 USFL Draft operated similarly to the 2019 XFL Draft. Teams picked from the same position pool in each round, and the draft used a modified snake format to ensure each team received the top choice in two of the position-specific rounds. Below is a breakdown of each phase of the draft:
Day 1
Round 1: Quarterbacks Rounds 2-4: Edge rushers/defensive ends Rounds 5-7: Offensive tackles Round 8-11: Cornerbacks Round 12: Quarterbacks
Day 2
Rounds 13-17: Wide receivers Rounds 18-19: Safeties Round 20: Centers Round 21: Inside linebackers Rounds 22-23: Offensive guards Rounds 24-26: Defensive tackles and nose tackles Rounds 27-28: Running backs and fullbacks Rounds 29-31: Outside linebackers Round 32: Kickers Round 33: Punters Round 34: Tight ends/H-backs Round 35: Long snappers
In total, 280 players were selected during the inaugural USFL Draft. They will fill 35 of each team’s 38 roster spots, so teams will each have to add 10 players after the draft. The USFL is planning to host a supplemental draft in March in the event that other players join the league’s talent pool.
Who is among the USFL’s player pool? It had been kept a secret, but we know more about the participants now that they’re official draft picks.
The Sporting News tracked the 2022 USFL Draft. Below is a full list of player picks and selections by team as each USFL franchise builds out its roster.
MORE: When will the USFL return? Key dates, schedule explained
USFL Draft tracker: Live results, complete picks list
Below is a team-by-team breakdown of the players selected during the 2022 USFL Draft. Teams are listed in alphabetical order.
Birmingham Stallions
Day 1
1-6: Alex McGough, QB2-3: Aaron Adeoye, DE3-6: Chauncy Haney, DE4-3: Seth Thomas, DE4-10: Jonathan Newsome, DE5-2: Darius Harper, OT6-7: O’Shea Dugas, OT7-2: Justice Powers, OT7-9: Matthew Snow, OT8-7: Brian Allen, CB9-2: Tae Hayes, CB10-7: Bryan Mills, CB11-2: Lorenzo Burns, CB12-3: J’Mar Davis-Smith, QB
Day 2
13-1: Victor Bolden Jr., WR14-8: Joseph Emmanuel Hall, WR15-1: Osirus Mitchell, WR16-8: Peyton Ramzy, WR17-1: Manasseh Bailey, WR18-8: Christian McFarland, S19-1: Tyree Robinson, S20-5: Jordan McCray, C21-4: Scooby Wright, ILB21-10: Jason Ferris, ILB22-3: Cameron Hunt, G23-6: Passed for compensatory pick24-6: Willie Yarbary, DT25-3: Haston Adams, DT26-6: Passed for compensatory pick27-7: Tony Brooks-James, RB/FB28-2: CJ Marable, RB/FB29-2: DeMarquis Gates, OLB30-7: Terrill Hanks, OLB31-2: Brody Buck, OLB32-8: Brandon Aubrey, K33-1: Colby Wadman, P34-4: Cary Angeline, TE35-5: Passed for compensatory pick
Houston Gamblers
Day 1
1-5: Clayton Thorson, QB2-4: Chris Doom, DE3-5: Ahmad Gooden, DE4-4: Drequan Brown, DE5-3: Brandon Hitner, OT6-6: Avery Gennesy, OT7-3: John Yarbrough, OT8-6: Jamar Summers, CB9-3: Will Likely, CB10-6: Howard Wilson, CB11-3: Jerry Cantave, CB12-4: Kenji Bahar, QB
Day 2
13-2: Isaiah Zuber, WR14-7: JoJo Ward, WR15-2: Anthony Ratliff-Mitchell, WR16-7: Tyler Simmons, WR17-2: Passed for compensatory pick18-7: Andrew Soroh, S19-2: Manny Bunch, S20-8: Nick Buchanan, C21-1: Beniquez Brown, ILB21-9: Reggie Northrup, ILB22-4: Tyler Higbee, G23-5: Terrone Prescod, G24-5: Cory Thomas, DT25-4: Tomasi Laulile, DT26-5: Domenique Davis, DT27-6: Dalyn Dawkins, RB/FB28-3: Mark Thompson, RB/FB29-3: Azeem Victor, OLB30-6: Donald Payne, OLB31-3: Drew Lewis, OLB32-7: Nick Vogel, K33-2: Andrew Galitz, P34-1: Brandon Barnes, TECompensatory pick (34-9): Julian Allen, TE35-8: Passed for compensatory pick
Michigan Panthers
Day 1
1-1: Shea Patterson, QB2-8: Adewale Adeoye, DE3-1: Cavon Walker, DE4-8: Chase DeMoor, DE5-5: Keith Williams, OT6-4: Teton Saltes, OT7-5: Joshua Dunlop, OT7-10: Joshua Taylor, OT8-4: Tino Ellis, CB9-5: Jameson Houston, CB10-4: David Rivers, CB11-5: Jalin Burrell, CB12-8: Paxton Lynch, QB
Day 2
13-6 Quincy Adeboyejo, WR14-3: Lance Lenoir, WR15-6: Jeff Badet, WR16-3: Ray Bolden, WR17-6: Passed for compensatory pick18-3: Orion Stewart, S19-6: Kieron Williams, S20-2: Sean Richard Pollard, C21-7: Justin Lorenz Hughes, ILB21-11: Taiwan Jones, ILB22-8: Marquel Harrell, G23-1: Daishawn Dixon, G24-1: TJ Carter, DT25-8: Jaquan Bailey, DT26-1: Kyshonn Tyson, DT27-4: Stevie Scott III, RB/FB28-5: Reggie Corbin, RB/FB29-5: Terry Myrick, OLB30-4: Frank Ginda, OLB31-5: Tre Threat, OLB32-3: Passed for compensatory pick33-6: Michael Carrizosa, P34-7: Joseph Magnifico, TECompensatory pick (34-11): La’Michael Pettway, TE35-2: Passed for compensatory pick
New Jersey Generals
Day 1
1-4: Ben Holmes, QB2-5: Bryson Young, DE3-4: Kolin Hill, DE4-5: Malik Hamner, DE5-6: Garrett McGhin, OT6-3: Calvin Ashley, OT7-6: Terry Poole, OT8-3: De’Vante Bausby, CB9-6: Trae Elston, CB10-3: David Rivers, CB11-6: DeJuan Neal, CB12-5: De’Andre Johnson, QB
Day 2
13-7: Kavontae Turpin, WR14-2: J’Mon Moore, WR15-7: Darrius Shepherd, WR16-2: Christopher Platt Jr., WR17-7: Randy Satterfield, WR18-2: Shalom Luani, S19-7: Dravon Askew-Henry, S20-1: Jake Lacina, C21-8: Chris Orr, ILB22-5: Mike Brown, G23-4: Evan Heim, G24-4: Destiny Vaeao, DT25-5: Toby Johnson, DT26-4: Kalani Vakameilalo, DT27-3: Mike Weber, RB/FB28-6: Trey Williams, RB/FB29-6: D’Juan Hines, OLB30-3: Tim Walton Jr., OLB31-6: Angelo Garbutt, OLB32-2: Nick Rose, K33-7: Passed for compensatory pick34-8: Braeden Bowman, TECompensatory pick (34-12): Nicholas Truesdell, TE
BENDER: Ranking the USFL’s uniforms from best to worst
New Orleans Breakers
Day 1
1-8: Kyle Sloter, QB2-1: Davin Bellamy, DE3-8: Anree Saint-Amour, DE4-1: James Folston Jr., DE4-9: Nigel Chavis, DE5-4: Paul Adams, OT6-5: Donnell Greene, OT7-4: Marquis Lucas, OT8-5: Adonis Alexander, CB9-4: Derrick Jones, CB10-5: Manny Patterson, CB11-4: Ja’Len Embry, CB11-9: Ike Brown, CB12-1: Zach Smith, QB
Day 2
13-3: Shawn Poindexter, WR14-6: Johnnie Dixon, WR15-3: Jonathan Adams, WR16-6: Taywan Taylor, WR17-3: Chad Williams, WR18-6: Dartez Jacobs, S19-3: Passed for compensatory pick20-7: Jared Thomas, C21-2: Jerod Fernandez, ILB22-1: Steven Rowzee, G23-8: Liam Dobson, G24-8: Shakir Soto, DT25-1: Kamilo Tongamoa, DT26-8: Connor Christian, DTCompensatory pick (26-9): Chris Okoye, DT27-5: Larry Rose III, RB/FB28-4: Jordan Ellis, RB/FB29-4: Diondre Wallace, OLB30-5: Vontae Diggs, OLB31-4: Passed for compensatory pick32-6: Austin MacGinnis, K33-3: Passed for compensatory pick34-2: Sal Cannella, TE35-1: Scott Flannick, LS35-7: Passed for compensatory pick
Philadelphia Stars
Day 1
1-3: Bryan Scott, QB2-6: Freedom Akinmoladun, DE3-3: Gus Cumberlander, DE4-5: Carroll Phillips, DE5-7: Blake Alan Camper, OT6-2: Michael Rodriguez III, OT7-7: Jacob Paul Burton, OT8-2: Channing Stribling, CB9-7: Marcus Lewis, CB10-2: Mazzi Wilkins, CB11-7: Bradley Sylve, CB12-6: Case Cookus, QB
Day 2
13-8: Devin Gray, WR14-1: Jordan Suell, WR15-8: Brennan Eagles, WR16-1: Diondre Overton, WR17-8: Maurice Alexander, WR18-1: Jack Tocho, S19-8: Cody Brown, S19-9: LaDarius Wiley, S20-4: Sean Brown, C21-5: Josh Banderas, ILB22-6: Jackson Brown, G23-3: Paul Nosworthy, G24-3: Mike Barnett, DT25-6: Chris Nelson, DT26-3: Jerome Johnson, DT27-2: Darnell Holland, RB/FB28-7: Matt Colburn II, RB/FB29-7: Jordan Moore, OLB30-2: Te’Von Coney, OLB31-7: Solomon Wise, OLB32-1: Matt Mengal, K33-8: Passed for compensatory pick34-5: Bug Howard, TE35-4: Ryan Navarro, LS
Pittsburgh Maulers
Day 1
1-7: Kyle Lauletta, QB2-2: Carlo Kemp, DE3-7: Nasir Player, DE4-2: Eric Assoua, DE5-1: Chidi Okeke, OT6-8: Isaiah Battle, OT7-1: Charles Baldwin, OT8-8: Ajene Harris, CB9-1: Terrell Bonds, CB10-8: Prince Robinson, CB11-1: Jaylon McClain-Sapp, CB12-2: Josh Love, QB
Day 2
13-4: Jeffrey Thomas, WR14-5: Bailey Gaither, WR15-4: Branden Mack, WR16-5: Delvon Hardaway, WR17-4: Tre Walker, WR18-5: Arnold Tarpley III, S19-4: Bryce Torneden, S20-6: Nicholas Falah, CCompensatory pick (20-6): Brayden Patton, C21-3: EJ Ejiya, ILB22-2: Vadal Alexander, G23-7: Jon Dietzen, G24-7: Olive Sagapolu, DT25-2: Boogie Roberts, DT26-7: Jeremiah Pharms Jr., DT27-8: Garrett Groshek, RB/FB28-1: De’Veon Smith, RB/FB29-1: Tyson Graham, OLB30-8: Malcolm Howard, OLB31-1: Kyahva Tezino, OLB32-5: Passed for compensatory pick33-4: Passed for compensatory pick34-3: Matt Seybert, TE35-6: Mitchell Fraboni, LS
Tampa Bay Bandits
Day 1
1-2: Jordan Ta’amu, QB2-7: Mekhi Brown, DE3-2: Michael Scott, DE4-7: Adam Shuler, DE5-8: Tyler Catalina, OT6-1: Corbin Kaufusi, OT7-8: Juwann Bushell-Beaty, OT8-1: Delrick Abrams Jr., CB9-8: Davante Davis, CB10-1: Christian Campbell, CB11-8: Rashard Causey Jr., CB12-7: Brady White, QB
Day 2
13-5: Eli Lamar Rogers, WR14-4: Derrick Willies, WR15-5: Derrick Dillon, WR16-4: Jordan Lasley, WR17-5: John Franklin III, WR17-9: Vinny Papale, WR18-4: Obi Henry Melifonwu, S19-4: Anthony Cioffi, S20-3: Bruno Reagan, C21-6: Christian Sam, ILB22-7: Fred Lauina, G23-2: Damien Mama, G24-2: Daylon Mack, DT25-7: Reggie Howard, DT26-2: John Atkins, DT27-1: BJ Emmons, RB/FB28-8: Juwan Washington, RB/FB29-8: Emmanuel Beal, OLB30-1: Greg Reaves, OLB31-8: Passed for compensatory pick32-3: Brandon Wright, K33-5: Passed for compensatory pick34-6: Cheyenne O’Grady, TECompensatory pick (34-10): De’Quan Hampton35-3: Ryan DiSalvo, LS
