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 continue the series with the Washington Commanders, highlighting every spring league player the organization has signed over the past four years.
2022 Cycle:
The Commanders would sign five players from the 2022 signing class upon the return of the USFL. DeJuan Neal (New Jersey Generals), Channing Stribling (Philadelphia Stars) and De’Vante Busby (New Jersey Generals) would all be released during training camp, but the team earned some value from Alex Akingbulu (Philadelphia Stars) who spent over two years with the franchise. Akingbulu would be released by the Commanders at the conclusion of training in 2024, with several game appearances under his belt. He returned to spring football with the Birmingham Stallions and Arlington/Dallas Renegades in 2025.
The Commanders also signed Tucker Addington (Houston Gamblers) due to an injury in 2023, in which the well-traveled long snapper appeared in three games for the team. Addington would be released in April of 2024, continuing his NFL career with six more contracts.
2023 Cycle:
The Commanders in 2023 would give six spring football players opportunities three from the XFL, and two from the USFL, along with a Martavis Bryant (Vegas Vipers) cameo in 2024 (he would be released during the 2024 training camp). The team saw Ferrod Gardner (D.C. Defenders) and Colby Wadman (Birmingham Stallions) were released during training camp however, the team did roster Jaryd Jones-Smith (St. Louis Battlehawks) on their practice squad for the entirety of the 2023 season, only to not offer him a futures deal for 2024 (he returned to the Battlehawks, and later signed with the Falcons in 2024).
Other members of spring football from the 2023 class that signed with Washington was Tight End Brandon Dillon (Vegas Vipers) who would spend the season on their injured reserve, and Davion Davis (Birmingham Stallions), who would spend several weeks on the Commanders practice squad, eventually being released at the conclusion of training camp in 2024.
2024 Cycle:
After the merger of the USFL, and XFL the Commanders would only sign one player from the 2024 UFL signing class. Washington would sign OT Armani Taylor-Prioleau (Birmingham Stallions), after the championship season with the Stallions. Taylor-Prioleau, would sustain an injury during camp, and be waived from injured reserve with a settlement in September.
2025 Cycle:
After releasing several spring football players from the previous seasons, the Commanders once again signed only one player from the UFL in 2025. WR Braylon Sanders (D.C. Defenders) would join Washington after a championship season in D.C., however would be released during final cuts in preseason.
Tracing back to the 2022 USFL rebirth, Washington has provided opportunities to thirteen players in the “modern era”. While the franchise garnered early production from contributors like Alex Akingbulu, Jaryd Jones-Smith, and Tucker Addington, the Commanders have witnessed a significant dip in returns from their recent signing classes since 2024.
As the current offseason progresses, the organization is notably devoid of UFL experience on its active roster. Furthermore, the front office has yet to sign a player from the 2026 signing cycle, quite the noticeable difference for a team that previously leveraged spring football notables like the veteran Taylor Heinicke and tight end Tyree Jackson to enhance their depth chart.
Expect the next influx of UFL talent to hit NFL rosters as training camps prepare to kickoff later this July.