With both the UFL and NFL in their offseason lulls, it's the perfect time to dive into some offseason content. As the UFL awaits the next wave of NFL signings for the 2026 player acquisition cycle, we're taking a look back at how each NFL team has utilized spring football as a developmental pipeline during the modern era of spring football since 2022. We begin the series with the New York Jets, highlighting every spring league player the organization has signed over the past four years.
2022 Cycle:
The Jets signed two players from the 2022 USFL class in Rashard Davis (Tampa Bay Bandits), and Tae Hayes (Birmingham Stallions). Davis would be a “camp invite” for the Jets appearing in one preseason game for the team. Hayes’ impact would be larger as the former Stallion as he’d appear in a game for New York during the 2023 season. Unfortunately for Hayes, a legal issue would end his NFL career early, after spending signing a futures deal for the 2024 season with the Jets.
2023 Cycle:
The Jets signed five players in a loaded spring football season with both the USFL, and XFL each hosting a season. The Jets signed four players from the XFL and one player from the USFL, with several spending time on their Active Roster or Practice Squad. Pita Taumoepenu (Vegas Vipers) would be a camp body in New York, however Nehemiah Shelton (Memphis Showboats), and Jacques Patrick (San Antonio Brahmas) both had stints on the Jets practice squad, before their eventual releases.
The most notable success story from this class was Bruce Hector (Arlington Renegades), who would spend almost two seasons with the team, appearing in 8 games over the 2023 and 2024 season. Currently, the Jets roster Jack Heflin (Houston Roughnecks) who after several stints across several NFL teams signed a futures deal with the team in February of 2026.
2024 Cycle:
Post merger, the Jets signed 8 UFL players during the 2024 offseason. Nehemiah Shelton (Memphis Showboats) made his return to the Jets serving as a camp body for the team along with Isaiah Winstead (Arlington Renegades), and Jaylen Twyman (San Antonio Brahmas). The Jets did see several players spend time on their active roster once again, with Kohl Levao (San Antonio Brahmas), who remains on the team in 2026, Adrian Martinez (Birmingham Stallions), Alec Lindstrom (Memphis Showboats), Brandon Smith (D.C. Defenders), and Anthony Hines (D.C. Defenders). Both Levao and Lindstrom have appeared in games for the Jets during their tenures on the team.
2025 Cycle:
The Jets would sign five UFL players this cycle, with one player still remaining on the team going into the 2026 season. Samuel Jackson (Houston Roughnecks), Alec Lindstrom (Memphis Showboats), and Mario Goodrich (Birmingham Stallions) would all serve as camp invites. Harrison Mevis (Birmingham Stallions), would spend several weeks on the Jets practice squad before joining the LA Rams, and eventually finding stability with them. Still with the team is Liam Fornadel (D.C. Defenders) who remains on the practice squad.
Currently the Jets have signed 20 players over the last five seasons however, they have yet to sign any UFL players during this signing cycle. UFL to NFL signings will continue once the teams begin training camp, later in July.