Image via Randy Sartin-Imagn Images
The UFL Draft is less than a month away, and there is a ton of excitement about who will be involved and who will be drafted where.
The Columbus Aviators have the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. They can go in a few different directions, from trying to find their Tay Martin replacement at wide receiver to adding support on defense.
One name that has come up is quarterback Diego Pavia, who recently announced he is working out a deal to join the UFL for the 2027 season. Most people think it's common sense to take Pavia number one, but they are forgetting one thing: Columbus already has a great quarterback on its roster.
Jalan McClendon & Jalen Morton Give Aviators Every Reason to Pass on Diego Pavia
To be clear: this has nothing to do with Pavia as a quarterback or personally. Whoever gets Pavia gets a young signal caller who can start right away and get butts in seats. He isn’t a gimmick the league wants, and he can play quarterback well while still making plays.
This is more about how the Aviators' quarterbacks, Jalan McClendon and Jalen Morton, are perfect fits for Columbus.
McClendon had a great 2026 season, completing 68.8% of his passes for 1,376 yards and eight touchdowns to six interceptions. He also added 238 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
McClendon knows the kind of offense Aviators head coach Ted Ginn Jr. and offensive coordinator Todd Haley want to run. Columbus’ quarterback has proven more than once that he should start.
Since joining the XFL in 2020, every team he's played for has overlooked McClendon. He’s always started the season as the backup, including last year. Somehow, though, he plays late in the year and proves his worth before someone else replaces him the next year.
As for Morton, he came up big late in the season as well, completing 43.1% of his passes for 433 yards and four touchdowns to three interceptions. He also ran for 140 yards and two more scores.
Like McClendon, Morton has been overlooked from his indoor football days to spring football. He was a one-time backup for the Birmingham Stallions and showed last year that he can start at a high level.
Morton's experience in Haley's offense is also valuable. There might be some accuracy work that needs to be done, but Morton understands what is needed in the offense.
McClendon and Morton are clear-cut number one quarterbacks for the Aviators and should battle in training camp for the starting job. They have the same abilities as Pavia, but with more experience and size.
Pavia will be a great quarterback in the UFL, but people can't forget about McClendon and Morton. No one can run Haley’s offense better than those two, so the Aviators should focus on drafting a top-notch pass catcher.