Memphis Showboats quarterback Dresser Winn is the team’s first player to sign with the NFL this season. It’s more of a reunion for Winn, who re-joins Sean McVay and the L.A. Rams for his third stint with the team since 2023.
Although four of Winn’s teammates including EDGE DeVere Levelston, RB Deneric Prince, SAF Keaton Ellis, and EDGE Jaylon Allen were invited to tryouts, Winn is the first to secure a role with an NFL team.
Winn’s Previous History With The Rams
A native of Dresden, TN Winn initially signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of UT Martin in May, 2023. After spending time on the Rams practice squad, he was waived before the start of the season. Winn briefly spent time with the CFL Edmonton Elks before he re-joined the Ram’s practice squad in November of 2023.
Although he never made the active roster, Winn was signed to a reserve/future contract the following January. Eight months later, in August of 2024, he was waived.
Winn’s History With the Showboats
Winn joined the Memphis Showboats in March of 2025 when presumed starting quarterback Quinten Dormady was released before the start of the season. Brought on board as the third-string quarterback behind E.J. Perry and Troy Williams, Winn didn’t see any action until Week 5. The Showboats season was off to a rocky start with a 0-4 record. Interim head coach Jim Turner was hoping to jump-start the offense.
Given the starting assignment on the road against the three-time championship Birmingham Stallions, Winn’s debut performance was a memorable one. Launching a stunning 78-yard touchdown bomb to wide receiver Dee Anderson early in the game, he announced his presence to the UFL. It became the league’s longest reception of the season.
Winn completed 17 of 29 attempts for 235 yards and a touchdown. He added two successful passes on 2-point conversions. Winn’s standout performance was enough to earn him the UFL’s Offensive Player of the Week award but proved unsustainable with Turner opting to rotate all three quarterbacks throughout the season. Winn finished the year completing 67 of 108 attempts for 834 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. He added another 52 yards rushing with one touchdown.
Winn’s Return To The NFL
Winn re-joins a strong NFL team as the fourth quarterback behind future Hall of Fame quarterback Matthew Stafford, NFL veteran Jimmy Garoppolo, and 2023 draft pick, Stetson Bennett. The Rams are well-positioned to make a playoff run with an impressive lineup that includes the return of healthy star receiver, Puka Nacua and the addition of six-time Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams.
Will there be an opportunity for Winn to see his first NFL action? Coach Turner wanted to give each of his quarterbacks an NFL opportunity. He accomplished that goal with one of his three quarterbacks. Now, the rest is up to Winn to prove his value to the Rams.
2 Comments
by Ken Granito
Congratulations to Dresser Winn and the UFL players that have been signed by the NFL to date. I look at this league and root for the players, first and foremost.
I realize we are in the offseason, but I know that the excitement the UFL has provided has passed me by. Being that no one has commented it would seem the fans are closed off about the league right now, too. When the league didn’t get in the way, there was a lot of good football played. Definitely always tweaking going on with the league. Although I know they are trying to be entertaining, the league has far too much influence in the game of football. The league, unsure if there will be enough scoring, has made it so the offense gets the ball with good field condition regardless of whether it is a punt or a kickoff. They almost never call holding until the game is decided and if they do it has to do with a desired outcome they prefer. It had gotten so bad that poor play in defense was the norm highlighted by this years UFL Championship onslaught. Thank God for the 4th & 12 rule or the Defenders may have gone for 70.
As fans of the league clamor for the well-being of the league offering the league should move the start date to the week after the Super Bowl, better marketing and expansion.
In response to moving the league up to the week after the Super Bowl. Do you remember how bad the viewership had been on the Pro Bowl. It was so bad they moved it before the Super Bowl. That is what would happen with the UFL. We keep comparing football to the 2020 XFL. That league went for 5 games so, to me, that is a relatively poor sample size. I do feel moving it up a week or two would really be good. I think a first week of March start would do well maybe 2nd week depending on how deep the first Sunday of the month starts. This allows the UFL to sign players unsigned by the NFL in December who would be prime pickups for the UFL. The cooler starts would allow for fans to get sweatshirts as well as t shirts as they support the league. Marketing is important, but not as important as the product you are marketing.
After improving the football element the most important step is expansion and doing so with an ownership group outside of the UFL. I feel strongly that this league will go under if it does not open itself up to outside people now. They can throw bad dollar after bad dollar at it, but until they decide they need to share this league with outside team owners the league will never get full penetration into the fanbase.
by Adam Simon
Who will the other UFL quarterbacks to get a chance at the NFL be? Will Kedon Slovis or Jason Bean play in the UFL next year?