Now that the NFL Draft has ended, we know the identifies of those players who will be eligible for the second annual UFL College Draft this summer, provided the rules stay the same as last year: That is, all players who have exhausted college football eligibility and were not selected in the NFL Draft can be considered by UFL teams in their draft.
It’s only the midway point in the UFL season, but I thought I’d take a stab at what the first round of the league’s College Draft could look like. Complicating matters is the number of teams in flux for next season, led by interim coaches that may be replaced. That tends to bring about different schemes and an overhaul of rosters. The second version of my mock draft, which I plan to have out just before the College Draft, will take these changes into account (assuming those head coaching vacancies are filled by that point).
Only 13 of 80 UFL College Draft picks in 2024 are currently on UFL rosters (including injured reserve). This is much more similar to Major League Baseball’s draft than the NFL’s, in that if teams do reap the rewards of these selections, it’s likely to be down the line rather than immediately. So while I’ll note each team’s needs at this point of the season, need-based drafting may not come into play here as much as it does in the NFL.
1. San Antonio Brahmas – OT Logan Brown, Kansas
Needs: pass rush, TE, DB, QB, WR, OL
It remains to be seen whether QB Kellen Mond is the answer at quarterback, so that could end up being the choice here. Tight ends have become a bigger part of the offense since A.J. Smith’s departure and they could use a receiving threat there, but first overall is too early for that position. So instead we’ll go with offensive line, a position in which the need is evergreen in spring football. Brown could be a franchise left tackle in the UFL.
2. Memphis Showboats – RB Raheim Sanders, South Carolina
Needs: RB, QB, OL, pass rush
Like San Antonio, Memphis may have a new head coach, who could bring with him new offensive and defensive schemes. Dresser Winn led Memphis to its first victory of the season and though the sample size is small, he could be THE guy for the Showboats. In order to continue to improve, the run game needs to compliment Winn and the pass game. Deneric Prince finally got some holes to run through against a tough Birmingham defense, credited perhaps to the adjustments made by the offensive staff in the wake of Ken Whisenhunt’s departure. Sanders, one of my personal favorites of the draft cycle at this position, has some injury concerns but is a true three-down player and home run threat that could be of value to Memphis.
3. Houston Roughnecks – DT Cam Horsley, Boston College
Needs: QB, OL, LB, DL
Houston may be one of the more stable coaching staffs in the league heading into the off-season, which is strange to think about. Last year, they drafted a lot of players who did not sign as UDFAs, and several of them have become key contributors this season. Houston is set at one of it’s defensive tackle spots with Olive Sagapolu, but could stand to upgrade the other and add depth. Horsley will do just that, as he projects best in an even front that the Roughnecks run under defensive coordinator Chris Wilson.
4. St. Louis Battlehawks – OT Hollin Pierce, Rutgers
Needs: OT, DL, DB
St. Louis has had remarkable carryover from year-to-year along their offensive line, but it could be time to get younger there. Left tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith turns 30 years old next season and right tackle Juwann Bushell-Beatty will be 29. The team drafted Bradley Ashmore last year and he made the team, replacing Bushell-Beatty due to injury in week five. General manager Dave Boller and head coach Anthony Becht showed an affinity for adding players who went to Rutgers this past off-season, so Pierce, a mountain of a man, would follow that trend.
5. Michigan Panthers – QB Brady Cook, Missouri
Needs: DB, WR
In this scenario, I imagine QB Bryce Perkins will be signed by an NFL team after the UFL season. I’ve not seen anything from Danny Etling over the long-term that makes me think he’s the answer at the position for Michigan. Therefore, with no team ahead of them taking a QB in my mock draft, it’s the perfect opportunity for Michigan to swoop in and take someone. Coordinator Marcel Bellefeuille’s offense has proven to be very quarterback-friendly, and while Cook isn’t the running threat Perkins is, he’s athletic enough to take off on designed runs and scramble to buy time.
6. Arlington Renegades – LB Jay Higgins, Iowa
Needs: OL, S, LB, depth in all areas
Arlington doesn’t have one singular glaring need at this point in the UFL season, giving them flexibility come draft time. They could go quarterback if they’re not sold on Holton Ahlers to eventually take the reigns from Luis Perez. However, this was not a deep QB class, and that extends into undrafted free agents. The captain of the defense, Donald Payne, will be 31 when next season rolls around and the Renegades should be in the market for his replacement. There isn’t much depth at that spot already on the team, so head coach Bob Stoops dips into his Iowa coaching roots to pick a Hawkeye in Higgins, someone with a lot of similarities in size and playing style to Payne.
7. Birmingham Stallions – CB Cobee Bryant, Kansas
Needs: RB, TE, DT, general depth
It’s hard to imagine head coach Skip Holtz won’t go offense with his first pick, especially with as well as his defense has played throughout most of the season. Yet, there are aspects of the defense that can be improved. For one, the defensive backfield: Birmingham has surrendered the most passing yards in the UFL over the course of the first five games, and DBs have committed 10 penalties. Bryant is a ballhawk who can create turnovers and stick to receivers. We’ve seen in the UFL how running games have struggled; if a team can take away the pass, offenses have little chance of success.
8. D.C. Defenders – RB Marcus Yarns, Delaware
Needs: QB, RB, WR, DB
D.C. has the rights to three quarterbacks currently in the NFL: 2024 College Draft picks Kedon Slovis and Tanner Mordecai, as well as off-season signee Emory Jones. While D.C. does need to think about a successor to Jordan Ta’amu (I’m not sure Mike DiLiello is the answer), QB may not be as much of a need if they can even get one of those players for 2026. Braylon Sanders has emerged at receiver in Ty Scott’s absence after being buried on the depth chart early in the season, closing one of the positional holes for now. Abram Smith has disappointed in his return from injury, averaging less than three yards per carry. Yarns will be able to get to the edge and accelerate to gain yardage when the blocking isn’t there in ways that Smith hasn’t done in 2025. His 4.45 speed will also help him run away from defenders in the open field. General manager Von Hutchins hasn’t shied away from plucking players from smaller schools.
