Jun 23, 2024, 5:38 p.m. ET
With the inaugural UFL season over, several players have earned opportunities to try out in the NFL
Now that the United Football League season has concluded with the Birmingham Stallions winning their third consecutive spring football championship, some of its players are making their way to NFL training camps. With camps starting at the end of July, the following weeks could be packed with signings.
Editorial Selections
We’ll keep track of the signings here, highlighting the Detroit Lions’ signing of Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates to a two-year deal. Also, we will see the return of Gareon Conley, a first-round pick for the Raiders in 2017 who has not played in an NFL game since 2019.
Here is an updated list of UFL players who have reached agreements with NFL franchises:
Dondrea Tillman, a key player in the Stallions’ title, has earned a new opportunity in the NFL, now in Denver. Butch Dill/UFL/Getty Images
Signed with: Denver Broncos
UFL team: Birmingham Stallions
The Broncos signed Tillman, who was a key pass rusher for the UFL champions. Tillman, who played collegiately at Indiana (Pa.), had 27 tackles, six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in the regular season, adding two more sacks in Birmingham’s USFL Conference Championship Game victory over Michigan.
Signed with: Atlanta Falcons
UFL Team: San Antonio Brahmas
Emili lands with the Falcons after helping anchor the UFL’s best defense, San Antonio, with 21 tackles and three sacks. Emili has previously spent time with the Bills and Saints, appearing in two games for Buffalo during the 2022 campaign.
Signed with: Atlanta Falcons
Equipo de UFL: St. Louis Battlehawks
Jones-Smith was a first-team All-UFL in 2024, helping the Battlehawks reach the XFL conference finals. Prior to playing in St. Louis, Jones-Smith has been in and out of the NFL and spring football since 2018, notably active for three games with the Raiders during the 2020 campaign.
Gareon Conley, cornerback
Signed with: Dallas Cowboys
UFL Team: DC Defenders
Conley will be making his return to the NFL, with the former first-round pick agreeing with the Cowboys. Conley has not played in an NFL game since 2019 and has not been on a roster since 2020, with his career derailed by a neck injury in 2019. Conley had 25 tackles, two interceptions, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery in seven games for the Defenders this year.
Signed with: New England Patriots
UFL Team: DC Defenders
Fornadel joins a Patriots squad short of interior linemen after playing in the CFL, XFL and UFL over the past couple of years. Fornadel, who played collegiately at James Madison, played for the DC Defenders in both the XFL and UFL after spending the 2022 campaign with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL.
Signed with: Carolina Panthers
UFL team: Memphis Showboats
Davis signed with the Panthers after leading Memphis in receptions last season, hauling in 41 passes for 446 yards and five touchdowns. He originally signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and suffered a neck injury in a preseason game with the Jaguars, forcing the suspension of the game.
Signed with: Dallas Cowboys
Equipo de UFL: St. Louis Battlehawks
Harvey joins the Cowboys after leading the UFL with 78 tackles and tying for second with nine tackles for loss en route to All-UFL honors. Harvey spent three seasons with the Browns from 2019 to 2021 after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa State, briefly appearing on the active roster in 2019 but spending most of his time on the practice squad.
Signed with: New York Jets
UFL Team: San Antonio Brahmas
Levao, who weighs nearly 350 pounds, played guard for the Brahmas, helping them win eight games (including playoffs) en route to the UFL Championship Game. Levao played collegiately at Hawaii and earned All-UFL honors with San Antonio.
Signed with: New York Giants
Equipo de UFL: St. Louis Battlehawks
Saylors signed a contract with the Giants after trying out with the club at the conclusion of the UFL campaign. Saylors was the UFL’s leading rusher last season, racking up 461 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Battlehawks to the regular-season XFL Conference Game.
Signed with: Minnesota Vikings
UFL Team: Arlington Renegades
Redmond only played four games for Arlington last season, but he left a big impact on the team. recording 4.5 sacks, five tackles, five tackles for loss and 18 tackles. Redmond was an ESPN 300 recruit out of high school and played at Oklahoma. He was briefly with the Panthers during training camp last season.
Jake Bates, placekicker
Signed with: Detroit Lions
UFL Team: Michigan Panthers
Bates signed a two-year contract with the Lions after earning All-UFL honors for the Panthers in 2024. Bates, who did not play college football, earned the spotlight with extremely long kicks, highlighted by a field goal for the 64-yard victory in the final moments, in Michigan’s season opener against the Battlehawks.
2024-06-23 21:38:00
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