Two 2-4 teams reinforced key positions with a trade on Monday, as Louisville acquired DE Lonnie Phelps from Houston for WR JaVonta Payton. Here's how I see the deal.
Louisville gets: DE Lonnie Phelps
Initially part of Houston's final cut-down at the end of training camp, Phelps was re-signed prior to week two. He's seen limited playing time, just 19 snaps on defense in three games. He played a lot more last year with the Houston Roughnecks, starting three games and coming away with two sacks. The Kings already have the UFL sack leader in Cam Gill, and Jaylon Allen also has 2.5 sacks on the other side. But with two critical games coming up against D.C. in back-to-back weeks, Louisville may recognize the need to affect QB Jordan Ta'amu if they are to have any shot at winning and staying in the playoff hunt. Payton has often been inactive, though an injury to Isaiah Winstead did put him in the lineup last Thursday. He was pretty well buried on the depth chart, making this a low-risk bet for the Kings.
Louisville Grade: B
Houston gets: WR JaVonta Payton
I wrote last week in my assessment of each UFL team's strengths and weaknesses that Houston's receivers had a problem with dropped passes. Against Columbus on Saturday, they added two more per Pro Football Focus. In Payton they get someone who has had success at the spring level before: He was an eight-game starter for the Renegades in 2024 and caught more than 20 passes for Arlington each of the last two years. It's been surprising to see him so underutilized by Louisville, whose offense hasn't exactly been a juggernaut. So far this year, he has seven catches for 80 yards. Payton should step in and be a factor right away, putting pressure on receivers like Jalen Moreno-Cropper and Jontre Kirklin to step up their games or risk losing playing time to him. Like Payton on the Louisville team, Phelps was a deep reserve for Houston, their fifth edge rusher on the depth chart and barring injury, that wasn't likely to change.
Houston grade: A