The United States Football League (USFL) held a two-day draft on Tuesday and Wednesday in Birmingham, Alabama. Several former Philadelphia Eagles players were selected among the players in the draft.
The Houston Gamblers selected former Eagles quarterback Clayton Thorson (26-years-old) with the fifth pick. Thorson was the Eagles fifth-round pick (167) in the 2019 NFL Draft from Northwestern. Thorson was one of the final cuts in training camp.
After the Eagles, he stayed in the NFC with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. At Northwestern, Thorson played 53 games in four seasons with 991 of 1,696 completions for 10, 731-yards, 61 touchdowns, 45 interceptions, 362 carries for 408-yards, and 27 touchdowns.
Two picks later, the Pittsburgh Maulers selected Kyle Lauletta (26-years-old). Lauletta was on the Eagles’ practice squad for two seasons.
Lauletta played 39 games in four seasons (2013, 2015-17) at Richmond with 758 of 1,194 completions for 10,465 yards, 73 touchdowns, 35 interceptions, 198 carries for 186 yards and 12 touchdowns. Lauletta spent time with the Giants, Falcons, Browns, and Jaguars.
In the eighth round, the Pittsburgh Maulers selected former Eagles cornerback Ajene Harris (25-years-old).
Harris tried out for the Eagles in 2019 but didn’t make the team. In 2020, he played five games for the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL with 20 tackles.
He played 44 games in four seasons (2014-18) at USC with 146 tackles, 1.5 sacks, six interceptions, 23 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Also going in the eighth round was cornerback De’Vante Bausby (29-years-old) as the New Jersey Generals drafted him. Bausby played ten games for the Eagles with 25 tackles. After the Eagles, Bausby played eight games for the San Antonio Commanders of the AAF with 17 tackles, ten pass breakups, and four interceptions.
Bausby went on to play for the Denver Broncos and was on the practice squad of both the Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots.
In the ninth round, the Michigan Panthers took cornerback Jameson Houston (25-years-old). Houston was on the Eagles’ practice squad and played three regular games in 2020.
The Eagles traded Houston and a sixth-round draft pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Josiah Scott. Houston played 48 games in four seasons (2016-19) at Baylor with 86 tackles, one interception, 17 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
One pick later, the New Jersey Generals selected cornerback Trae Elston (28-years-old). Elston played 14 games with the Miami Dolphins with 19 tackles, one pass block, and one interception. Elston had two stints with the Eagles in 2017 and 2019. Elston has been with the Saints, Buccaneers, Browns, and Bills.
Elston played 50 games in four seasons (2012-15) at Ole Miss with 252 tackles, one sack, five interceptions, two touchdowns, 23 pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles.
In the seventieth round, the Birmingham Stallions selected wide receiver Manassah Bailey (24-years-old). Bailey tried out for the Eagles in 2020 but was cut at the end of training camp.
Bailey played 43 games in two seasons (2016-19) at Morgan State with 116 catches for 2,059 yards, 20 touchdowns, and nine carries for nine yards.
In the eighteenth round, the Tampa Bay Bandits took Obi Melifonwu (27-years-old). The Oakland Raiders drafted Melifonwu in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft from UConn. Melifonwu had a brief stint with the Eagles in 2021 before suffering an injury. He also had stints with the 49ers and Patriots.
Melifonwu played 48 games in four seasons (2013-16) at UConn with 351 tackles, eight interceptions, 24 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
The New Jersey Generals picked defensive tackle Destiny Vaeao (28-years-old) in the twenty-fourth round. Vaeao signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent from Washington State in 2016. He played 41 games in four seasons (2012-15) at Washington State with 84 tackles, seven sacks, two pass blocks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one block.
Vaeao played sixteen games in 2016 with 15 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble. In his second season, he made ten tackles when the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018.
The Eagles released him in October 2018. After the Eagles, Vaeao was with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers.
In the twenty-fifth round, the Michigan Panthers took defensive tackle Jaquan Bailey (24-years-old). Bailey tried for the Eagles in 2021 but was cut at the end of training camp.
Bailey played 54 games in five seasons (2016-20) at Iowa State with 151 tackles, 25.5 sacks, 13 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
In the thirty-fourth round, the Birmingham Stallions drafted tight end Cary Angeline (24-years-old). Angeline is from Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, and tried out for the Eagles in 2021.
Angeline played games in his first two seasons at USC before transferring to NC State, playing 35 games with 61 catches for 960-yards and 12 touchdowns.
