The USFL Supplemental Draft: Everything you need to know – from team needs to top players

| American Football | 03/09/2022

The USFL will hold a Supplemental Draft Thursday, March 10 as the league’s eight teams still have plenty of spots to fill for training camp.

With the April 12 kickoff fast approaching, teams need to fill these spots in a hurry.

The league will host a 10-round snake draft that will follow a similar format to the first draft. Eighty players will be selected as all teams still need three more players for their active roster, seven practice squad players, and plenty of extra bodies for training camp.

Top players:

Fans might assume that all of the most talented players available to the alternative league would’ve been snatched up in the initial draft. However, that’s not exactly how things went down, as several notable AAF, XFL, and spring league players were not part of the player pool and therefore went undrafted.

Quarterbacks:                                                                                                                                                  

Brandon Silvers: The former Troy University standout has played in the AAF, XFL, and Spring League. The 27-year-old has flashed tremendous accuracy and throwing power in the past but has also produced many turnovers during his pro-career.

Luis Perez: Perez is a winner, it’s simple as that. The Texas A&M Commerce (DII) star won the national championship in college, along with the D2 Heisman trophy (Harlon Hill). Since then he’s continued to win, posting wins in two out of three XFL starts and taking his Jousters squad to the championship in the Spring League.

Diondre Francois: The former Florida State quarterback transferred out of the powerhouse after league trouble in Tallahassee. Afterward, the talented former Seminole went on to play for Hampton University and then the Fan-controlled Football League.

Kelly Bryant: Bryant is a former Clemson and Missouri quarterback who might be considered for the upstart league. The 25-year old was benched for future number one NFL draft pick Trevor Lawrence in college. He then went on the play at Missouri. Since his college days Bryant has signed the CFL and played Arena Football.

Receivers:

Dontez Byrd: In two years at Tennesse Tech, Byrd recorded 152 catches, 1,936 yards, and 13 touchdowns with the Golden Eagles, breaking several school records in the process. He then played professionally for five teams in four leagues (NFL, AAF, XFL, and IFL), so the USFL would be his fifth. Byrd is also a dangerous kick returner and excellent route runner.

Rashad Ross: The former Arizona State speedster spent six years in the NFL before joining the Arizona Hotshots of the AAF. Ross was the AAF’s best receiver before the league folded, earning him another crack at the NFL. Since 2019 Ross has played for the Carolina Panthers, DC Defenders (XFL), and the Montreal Alouettes (CFL).

Defenders:

Donald Rutllege Jr. (DB): At 6’1 215 pounds Rutlege Jr. is a physical safety who can tackle in space. The 24-year old spent time with the Arizona Cardinals and is eager to earn himself another chance at the NFL. Expect him to be one of the league’s biggest hitters.

Asantay Brown (LB): A standout at Western Michigan, Brown went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles and then the Dallas Renegades of the XFL. After a summer of playing for the Parma Panthers of Italy brown is ready to strap it up again in the states.

Stefan Claiborne (CB): The lanky corner was a solid defender in the spring league last year. The Western Michigan product is a physical defensive back with long arms that can match up well with receivers in the red zone.

Jeremiah Spicer (LB): The former XFL linebacker was described as one of the leagues most physical players. Now the former LA Wildcat looks to pack a punch in the USFL.

Charles James (CB): The ex-Houston Texans corner was a star of HBO’s hard knocks for his versatilely and stylish socks. Since then, James has played for several NFL teams, before trying his luck in the AAF and Houston Roughnecks in the XFL.

Team needs:

Many teams opted to “pass” on picks during the USFL draft in order to gain picks in other position-based rounds. While that strategy could have paid off it does leave some teams with rather large holes on their roster.

Philadelphia Stars: QB, P, OL

Birmingham Stallions: DT, OL, S, TE

New Orleans Breakers: OLB, S, CB, P

Pittsburgh Maulers: P, TE, DE

Houston Gamblers: WR, TE, OL

Tampa Bay Bandits: OLB, P, OL

Michigan Panthers: Kicker, WR, TE

New Jersey Generals: P, QB, RB, OL

With only a few selections at every position except the supplemental draft to be filled with primarily receivers, linemen, and kickers at teams look to fill out their rosters as training camp is just around the corner.

Alex is a former NCAA and semi-pro American football player who is now located in London, where he works in digital marketing. His goal in writing for AFI is to stay involved with the game that has given him so much. Alex enjoys covering leagues and