This week, the speculation about the merger between the USFL and XFL heated up when Birmingham linebacker Scooby Wright revealed a series of texts from the USFL Players Association saying Memphis, Birmingham, Houston, and Michigan would be part of the newly merged league. In addition, the XFL would have D.C., Arlington, San Antonio, and St. Louis.
The teams that will not be part of the league are the Philadelphia Stars, New Jersey Generals, New Orleans Breakers, Pittsburgh Maulers, Houston Roughnecks, Orlando Guardians, Seattle Sea Dragons, and the Vegas Vipers. Eliminating eight teams also eliminates jobs and for these teams, they have unique players who would make an immediate impact in the CFL.
Some of these players might get picked up by the existing teams in the upcoming disposal draft unless something major changes and both leagues go their separate ways. However, all nine CFL teams should attempt to sign these players.
10. Adam Rodriguez (Philadelphia Stars)
Adam Rodriguez is six foot two and weighs 245 pounds. The 25-year-old from Provo, Utah, had 27 tackles (18 solo, 9 assist), six tackles for loss, six sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup in ten games for the Stars in 2023.
He was named to the USFL All-Star Team. In two seasons with Philadelphia, Rodriguez has 67 tackles (46 solo, 21 assists), 14 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, three pass breakups, and one safety in 20 games.
The Stars drafted him in the second round of the 2022 USFL Supplemental Draft. In 2022, Rodriguez had 40 tackles (28 solo, 12 assists), eight tackles for loss, nine sacks, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and one safety in ten games.
Before Philadelphia, he was with the TSL’s Blues in 2021. Collegiately, Rodriguez played four seasons (2016-19) at Weber State with 199 tackles (98 solo, 101 assists), 22 sacks, 41 tackles for loss, ten pass breakups, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries in 52 games for the Wildcats. He is a two-time All-American.
9. Brandon Silvers (Houston Roughnecks)
Brandon Silvers is six foot three and weighs 219 pounds. The 29-year-old from Pensacola, Florida, completed 156 of 282 passes (59.5%) for 1,551 yards, 13 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, and nine carries for -2 yards in eight games for the Roughnecks in 2023.
Before Houston, Silvers attended a rookie minicamp with the New Orleans Saints in 2018. In 2019, he played for the Memphis Express (AAF) completing 80 of 125 passes (64%) for 799 yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions, and four carries for 22 yards in five games. After the season, he signed with the New York Jets.
In 2020, Silvers played for the Seattle Dragons (XFL) completing 53 of 102 passes (52%) for 539 yards, six touchdowns, four interceptions, and six carries for 16 yards in four games before the season was shut down due to COVID-19.
In 2021, Silvers played for the Conquerors completing 55 of 80 passes (68.8%) for 685 yards, nine touchdowns, one interception, and four carries for five yards in six games leading the Conquerors to the championship game. He initially signed a contract with the USFL but was never drafted.
Collegiately, Silvers played four seasons at Troy (2014-17) completing 950 of 1,479 yards, 69 touchdowns, 29 interceptions, 229 carries for 404 yards, 16 touchdowns, and one catch for nine yards in 47 games for the Trojans. He was named First Team All-Sun Belt in 2016.
8. Darius Victor (New Jersey Generals)
Darius Victor is five foot eight and weighs 209 yards. The 29-year-old from Liberia had 100 carries for 554 yards, four touchdowns, 26 catches for 189 yards, four touchdowns, and one kick return for 16 yards in ten games for the Generals in 2023. The Generals drafted Victor in the sixth round (327th pick) in the 2023 USFL Supplemental Draft.
Darius Victor made an instant impact for the Generals in 2022 with 127 carries for 577 yards, nine touchdowns, 15 catches for 113 yards, one touchdown, and two kick returns for 63 yards in ten games. He led the USFL in rushing touchdowns that season.
The Generals finished 9-1 that season but were eliminated in the North Division championship game against the Philadelphia Stars in Canton, Ohio. Victor was named USFL Offensive Player of the Year and All-USFL Team in 2022.
Before New Jersey, Victor signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He later signed with the Arizona Cardinals and was placed on the practice squad. Then, he signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2019 but was released.
In 2020, the New York Guardians (XFL) drafted him in the ninth round (67th pick) in the 2020 XFL Draft. He played five games, making one start with 55 carries for 238 yards, and six catches for 36 games before the league suspended operations due to COVID-19.
Collegiately, Victor played four seasons at Towson University (2013-16) with 637 carries for 3,309 yards, 41 touchdowns, 20 catches for 141 yards, and one touchdown in 41 games, of which 27 were starts for the Tigers.
7. Vontae Diggs (New Orleans Breakers)
Vontae Diggs is six foot two and weighs 229 pounds. The 27-year-old from Downers Grove, Illinois, made 69 tackles (41 solo, 28 assists), six tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions for 43 yards, one touchdown, and six pass breakups in ten games for the Breakers in 2023. In the 2023 playoffs against Birmingham, Diggs made nine tackles (6 solo, 3 assists).
New Orleans drafted Diggs in the 30th round (245th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. Diggs made 75 tackles (51 solo, 24 assists), seven tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception for 37 yards, one touchdown, and two pass breakups in ten games.
Before New Orleans, Diggs attended a rookie minicamp for the Washington Redskins in 2018. In 2019, he split the season with the Atlanta Legends (AAF) and Columbus Destroyers (AFL). After those seasons, Diggs signed with the Edmonton Eskimos with 74 tackles, two sacks, and one interception for 19 yards in 18 games, of which 16 were starts.
Collegiately, Diggs played four seasons at Connecticut (2014-17) with 183 tackles (100 solo, 83 assists), 11.5 tackles for loss, one sack, four pass breakups, and three forced fumbles in 46 games for the Huskies.
6. Cameron Echols-Luper (New Orleans Breakers)
Cameron Echols-Luper is six foot and weighs 195 pounds. The 28-year-old from Ennis, Texas, made 23 catches for 294 yards, two touchdowns, eight kick returns for 255 yards, one touchdown, and nine punt returns for 32 yards in ten games for the New Jersey Generals in 2023. Echols-Luper signed with the New Orleans Breakers on October 4, 2023.
The Generals signed Echols-Luper on April 1, 2022. In 2022, Echols-Luper made three catches for 38 yards, one carry for 24 yards, one touchdown, and 26 kick returns for 748 yards in eight games for the Generals in 2022.
Before New Jersey, Echols-Luper signed with the B.C. Lions in 2019 and was placed on the practice squad. In 2021, he played for the Sea Lions (TSL) with 13 catches for 193 yards.
Collegiately, Echols-Luper played two seasons at TCU (2013-14) with 13 catches for 93 yards, one carry for three yards, completed 3 of 4 passes (75%) for 59 yards, one touchdown, 11 kick returns for 126 yards, 47 punt returns for 536 yards, and one touchdown in 24 games for the Horned Frogs. He was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention as a return specialist in 2014.
Next, Echols-Luper transferred to Arkansas State (2015-16) with 26 catches for 407 yards, one touchdown, seven carries for eight yards, completed 2 of 3 passes (67%) for 66 yards, one touchdown, two kick returns for 35 yards, and four punt returns for 139 yards in 13 games for the Red Wolves.
Then, Echols-Luper transferred to Western Kentucky in 2017 with 42 catches for 473 yards, four touchdowns, two carries for six yards, and 18 kick returns for 390 yards in 10 games for the Hilltoppers.
5. Bryce Torneden (Pittsburgh Maulers)
Bryce Torneden is five foot nine and weighs 190 pounds. The 25-year-old from Lawrence, Kansas, made 46 tackles (29 solo, 17 assists), 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, and 3 pass breakups in 10 games for the Maulers in 2023. In the playoffs, Torneden made 10 tackles (7 solo, 3 assists), and one pass breakup.
The Maulers drafted Torneden in the 19th round (151st pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2022, Torneden made 70 tackles (41 solo, 29 assists), 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and 4 pass breakups in 10 games. Before the Maulers, Torneden played for the Sea Lions (TSL).
Collegiately, Torneden played four seasons at Kansas (2016-19) with 233 tackles (161 solo, 72 assists), 15 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and 3 fumble recoveries in 46 games for the Jayhawks. He was named Third Team All-Big 12 by Phil Steele in 2017.
4. Jordan Suell (Philadelphia Stars)
Jordan Suell is six foot six and weighs 205 pounds. The 26-year-old from Vancouver, Washington, made 12 catches for 130 yards before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the 2023 season.
The Stars drafted Suell in the 14th round (105th pick) in the 2022 USFL Draft. In his first season with the Stars, Suell had 36 catches for 370 yards, and three touchdowns in ten games. In the 2022 USFL Championship game against the Birmingham Stallions in Canton, Ohio, Suell caught five passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns.
Before Philadelphia, Suell tried out for the New England Patriots in 2021. In 2020, Suell played four games for the Generals (TSL) with 12 catches for 325 yards and four touchdowns.
Collegiately, Suell four seasons at Southern Oregon (2016-19) with 112 catches for 2,184 yards and 27 touchdowns in 38 games for the Raiders.
3. Jahcour Pearson (Seattle Sea Dragons)
Jahcour Pearson is five foot seven and weighs 178 pounds. The 25-year-old from Broward County, Florida, made 60 catches for 670 yards, four touchdowns, and three punt returns for 20 yards in ten games for the Seattle Sea Dragons (XFL) in 2023. He was named to the All-XFL Team in 2023 and led the league in receptions and receiving yards.
Collegiately, Pearson played three seasons at Western Kentucky (2017-19) with 96 catches for 976 yards, seven touchdowns, 11 carries for two yards, three kick returns for 44 yards, and one punt return for ten yards in 34 games for the Hilltoppers. He was named Second Team All-C-USA in 2019.
Then, Pearson transferred to Ole Miss in 2021 with 26 catches for 392 yards, and four carries for 30 yards in 13 games for the Rebels.
2. Paris Ford (New Jersey Generals)
Paris Ford is six foot and weighs 190 pounds. The 25-year-old from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, had 53 tackles (38 solo, 15 assists), two tackles for loss, one interception, and three pass breakups in nine games for the Generals in 2023.
The Generals drafted Ford in the fourth round (310th pick) in the 2022 USFL Supplemental Draft. In 2022, he had eight tackles (7 solo, 1 assist), two tackles for loss, one interception, and one pass breakup in eight games. Before New Jersey, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2021.
Collegiately, Ford played four seasons at Pittsburgh (2017-20) with 147 tackles (91 solo, 56 assists), six tackles for loss, six interceptions for 103 yards, one touchdown, 20 pass breakups, and three forced fumbles in 29 games for the Panthers. He was named First Team All-ACC in 2019.
1. McLeod Bethel-Thompson (New Orleans Breakers)
McLeod Bethel-Thompson is six foot four and weighs 220 pounds. The 35-year-old from San Francisco, California, led the USFL completing 220 of 336 passes (65.5%) for 2,433 yards, 14 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and 17 carries for 45 yards helping the Breakers reach the South Division Championship game. He was released by the Breakers on July 11, 2023, and is rumored to be returning to the CFL.
Last year, he was the CFL passing leader, completing 387 of 579 passes (66.8%) for 4,731 yards, 23 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, and 35 carries for 166 yards in 18 games in Toronto in 2022. He led Toronto to its 18th Grey Cup championship in history with a thrilling 24-23 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Thompson played five seasons in the CFL all with Toronto. He completed 1,125 of 1,683 passes (66.8%) for 13,261 yards, 70 touchdowns, 49 interceptions, 93 carries for 513 yards, and two touchdowns in 74 games.
He won his first Grey Cup title as a backup in 2017 when Toronto beat Calgary 27-24 in the 105th Grey Cup. It was the final game for CFL Hall of Famer Ricky Ray. In addition, Thompson is a two-time CFL East All-Star (2021-22) and was the CFL passing touchdowns leader (26) in 2019.
Before joining the CFL, Thompson was a journeyman quarterback having stints with the 49ers, Dolphins, Vikings, Patriots, and Eagles. Furthermore, he played for the San Jose SaberCats (AFL), Sacramento Mountain Lions (UFL) in 2011, and the Aviators (TSL) in 2020. In 2016, Thompson signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and was placed on their practice squad but was released.
Collegiately, Thompson began at UCLA in 2007. He completed 23 of 55 passes (41.8%) for 293 yards, one touchdown, five interceptions, and 15 carries for -32 yards in five games for the Bruins.
Afterward, Thompson transferred to Sacramento State (2008-10) completing 113 of 197 passes (57.4%) for 1,322 yards, seven touchdowns, eight interceptions, 47 carries for 29 yards, and two touchdowns in 12 games for the Hornets.
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