With the UFL in its 4th day of the offseason the Houston Gamblers have seen another key piece of the team join an NFL franchise. 2nd year wide receiver Lawerence Keys is making his return to the NFL this time with the Detroit Lions. The 2024 UDFA earns his first opportunity since coming out of Tulane and joining the Buffalo Bills. The team also saw All-UFL Offensive Lineman Gottlieb Ayedze sign with the Miami Dolphins.
Keys saw an extended role in the Gamblers offense this year while also contributing as a special teams ace adding over 600 return yards through punt and kick returns. Keys had appeared in 18 games for Houston during the last two seasons, totaling over 500 receiving yards on 41 receptions. He is the third wide receiver from Houston to earn an NFL opportunity. He previously worked out for the Denver Broncos on June 4th.
The Gamblers will also see Gottlieb Ayedze pursue an NFL opportunity with the Miami Dolphins. An All-UFL selection in 2026, Ayedze was a UDFA out of Maryland in 2023. After being selected with the 4th overall pick in the 2024 UFL Draft, Ayedze joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, along with a stint with the Las Vegas Raiders spending a year on their practice squad. After failing to make the team out of camp in 2025, Ayedze joined the D.C. Defenders via the UFL allocation draft before being traded to the Houston Gamblers and putting together an All-League season for the team. He previously worked out for the New England Patriots on June 15th.
The Gamblers have now seen seven players earn NFL contracts with 11 players earning tryouts. So far the UFL has seen 23 players earn NFL contracts, with 64 earning contracts from the 2025 UFL to NFL signing cycle.