As NFL teams begin to prepare for OTAs, several spring football alumni have found themselves on the backend with roster transactions. Since the conclusion of the NFL draft, and the beginning of rookie minicamp, four spring football alums have been released with one player earning another opportunity as he continues to fight for his career moving forward.
Players Released:
Kaden Davis:
Davis has spent the past three seasons on and off NFL rosters with the Browns, Lions, Broncos, and Cardinals appearing in several games since 2023. Davis was a late season signing by the Michigan Panthers in 2023 and was unsigned after the 2025 season. He was recently signed with the Houston Gamblers about two weeks ago.
Sal Cannella:
Cannella defied the odds since appearing in The Spring League in 2021. Since then he's earned NFL contract after each spring football season he's participated in. He finally made the Browns practice squad, appearing in two games at the end of the 2025 season. Cannella was recently released after the Browns rookie mini camp at 29 years old.
Garrett Nelson:
Nelson was able to find a nice niche with Broncos, who kept the former Brahma around despite being deep at the position. Nelson has bounced on and off the practice squad of Denver and New Orleans eventually sticking with the Broncos during the back half of 2025 during their playoff run. He was released on May 10th.
Seth Vernon:
Vernon was signed after the Gary Zauner showcase that several UFL/USFL/XFL players partook in during the early part of the year. He impressed enough to earn a contract with the Miami Dolphins becoming the 64th UFL player from the 2025 class to earn a contract. Unfortunately, Vernon was released after the Dolphins RMC.
Signed:
Scott Daly:
Daly returns for his sixth season since XFL 2020 becoming one of the mainstays in the NFL from the COVID-Shortened season. He's spent the last two seasons with the Chicago Bears becoming their everyday long snapper and will compete to maintain a spot on the team. Daly's experience makes him a candidate to be a fill-in for teams if they experience injuries throughout the 2026 regular season.
Currently spring football players dating back to the AAF have 41 alumni on NFL rosters going into OTAs. Recently the XFL class of 2020 has been dealt with several mainstays retiring like Taylor Heinicke, and P.J. Walker. Spring football leagues have seen an average of 60 players earn contracts with the AAF earning 99 over its footprint as a high point, and the USFL class of 2023 earning 42 at a lowpooint.