In two months, the United States Football League (USFL) kicks off the 2022 season on April 16th between the New Jersey Generals and the Birmingham Stallions.
Later this month, the Generals, Stars, Stallions, Gamblers, Panthers, Maulers, Breakers, and Bandits will select players in the upcoming USFL Draft. The roster will be smaller than other leagues carrying 38 players and seven players on the practice squad.
The USFL is the latest spring football league after the AAF (2019) and XFL (2020) to give players another opportunity to play football. In 2020, many football fans watched the XFL, and the league beat some NHL, NBA, and college basketball games.
The difference between the XFL and the USFL is the rules and some high-profile players. However, the USFL already has an advantage before it takes the field. There is a chance that Major League Baseball won’t play a 2022 season and this leaves a hole in the sports calendar.
The USFL is going to need players that fans will immediately recognize from either the NFL or college football. It starts with the quarterback.
In 2020, the XFL named their starters for the eight teams that included Cardale Jones (Defenders), Brandon Silvers (Dragons), PJ Walker (Roughnecks), Aaron Murray (Vipers), Landry Jones (Renegades), Jordan Ta’Amu (Battlehawks), Luis Perez (Wildcats), and Matt McGloin (Guardians).
The USFL should take that same approach when they reveal the players this month for the USFL Draft. The quarterbacks who should be on the USFL’s radar are Paxton Lynch, Cardale Jones, Josh Johnson, A.J. McCarron, Garrett Gilbert, Brandon Silvers, Jordan Ta’Amu, and Josh Rosen.
Some of these players were big names in college like Josh Rosen (UCLA), A.J. McCarron (Alabama), Jordan Ta’Amu (Ole Miss), Brandon Silvers (Troy), Paxton Lynch (Memphis), and Cardale Jones (Ohio State). Here are their college stats.
Josh Rosen-UCLA (2015-17) 712-1170 completions, 9,339-yards for 59 touchdowns, and 26 interceptions.
A.J. McCarron-Alabama (2010-2013) 686-1,026 completions, 9,019-yards, 77 touchdowns, 15 interceptions. McCarron won two National Championships in 2011 and 2012.
Jordan Ta’Amu-Ole Miss (2017-18) 381-591 completions, 5,600-yards, 30 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 173 carries for 507-yards, and ten touchdowns.
Brandon Silvers-Troy (2014-17) 969-1,504 completions, 10,684-yards, 71 touchdowns, 29 interceptions, 237 carries for 415-yards, and 16 touchdowns. Silvers led Troy to win the New Orleans Bowl over North Texas.
Paxton Lynch-Memphis (2013-15) 758-1,205 completions, 8,863-yards, 59 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, 288 carries for 687-yards, and 17 touchdowns.
Cardale Jones-Ohio State (2013-15) 167-270 completions, 2,323-yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
While these quarterbacks put up numbers in college, they have not lived up to expectations in the NFL. Since then, some of these players have had short careers in the NFL, while A.J. McCarron, Garrett Gilbert, and Josh Rosen are backups set to become free agents.
Not every player is meant to play in the NFL, and that’s okay. Some former NFL players had better careers in other leagues like the CFL from Jeff Garcia, Doug Flutie, and Ricky Ray.
With the USFL set kickoff in a couple of months, these quarterbacks could use a fresh start elsewhere, and the USFL is a perfect spot for them to revive their careers.
