With a record number of 77 UFL players signed to the NFL this preseason, it’s reasonable to assume some of the league’s most celebrated players would make their team’s roster. But sadly, the revolving door of the NFL works both ways, rapidly sweeping players out as soon as they are invited in.
To date, both the UFL Offensive Player of the Year, St. Louis Battlehawks wide receiver Hakeem Butler, and the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, Michigan Panthers defensive end, Breeland Speaks, have been waived by their respective teams ahead of the final roster cuts.
What The Waiver Designation Means
What is the next step for players who are cut from their teams? In the NFL, when a team waives a veteran player, he immediately becomes eligible to be claimed by another team. If multiple teams submit a waiver claim for that player, he is “awarded” to the team with the highest waiver priority. A team’s priority waiver status is based on the team’s 2023 performance ranking. Teams with the worst record will have the highest priority and the Kansas City Chiefs have the lowest. ‘
If a player is unclaimed after the first three weeks of the regular season, their status changes to an “unrestricted free agent” and they can then join the NFL team of their choosing as part of the team’s 53-man roster or practice squad.
While a waiver designation is reserved for veteran players with four or more years of professional experience, less experienced players are “released” from their NFL contracts and are free to immediately sign with another NFL team.
The Dallas Cowboys
Among the most active NFL teams in the preseason with multiple UFL players signed Dallas announced they were waiving defensive tackle Willie Harvey and wide receiver Deontay Burnett. A standout talent for the St. Louis Battlehawks, Harvey was named to the All-UFL Team and led the league in tackles with 78, nine of which were for a loss. Burnett was one of the UFL’s leading wide receivers and topped the charts with 33 receptions for 306 yards with two touchdowns for the Arlington Renegades.
Other Wide Receivers
Justin Hall had a terrific season for the Houston Roughnecks as the league’s overall number-three wide receiver with 56 receptions for 614 yards with three touchdowns. Hall was cut by the Minnesota Vikings this week.
Yet another league-leading wide receiver in the UFL was just released by the San Francisco 49ers. Jontre Kirklin earned the number two ranking behind Hakeem Butler for the San Antonio Brahmas last season with a total of 56 catches for 614 yards with three touchdowns.
Other Recently Cut UFL Players
Birmingham Stallions quarterback Matt Corral was among the recently released players for the Minnesota Vikings. Corral was only recently signed by the Vikings before their third preseason game, so he likely didn’t have much of an opportunity to practice or prove his value to the team.
Another UFL star cut this week was the league’s most successful UFL running back, Jacob Saylors. Named to the 2024 All-UFL team, Saylors boasted 461 yards on 94 carries with five touchdowns. Second only to Birmingham Stallions quarterback and league MVP, Adrian Martinez, Saylors was initially signed to the New York Giants immediately following the conclusion of the UFL season, only to be released and subsequently signed to the Browns. The Browns also announced the release of former Michigan Panthers tackle, Chim Okorafor.
Another talented late-season acquisition who was just with the Pittsburgh Steelers for one week before being released is former Birmingham Stallions linebacker Kyahva Tezino.
Popular Seatle Sea Dragons quarterback Ben DiNucci was just waived by the Buffalo Bills. Like Corral, DiNucci was a late preseason acquisition and probably didn’t have much of an opportunity to take snaps or practice with the team.
Earlier this morning, the Atlanta Falcons just announced that they were parting ways with St. Louis Battlehawks offensive tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith.
All of the NFL teams must finalize their 53-man roster by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, August 27th. Stay tuned for more updates as teams continue to trim their rosters.
