Sports Time Radio

Originally the XFL season was suppose to end with their championship game being played on April 26th. After that game on April 27th XFL players would’ve been able to sign with any NFL or CFL team that was interested in signing them. Now unfortunately with the issues we’re all dealing with the XFL season lasted just 5 games. Now instead of making their players sit around for over a month before they could sign with the NFL or CFL they did a really good thing for their players and allowed them to start signing with NFL or CFL teams this past Monday.

Honestly I thought there would be more signings once these players became eligible, but so far only six have singed with NFL teams. Let’s take a look at who went where so far.

I’m sure no one was really surprised when the first XFL player signed to an NFL contract was Houston Roughnecks quarterback P.J. Walker. Walker was clearly the best player through those 5 XFL games and appeared to be on his way to winning the leagues MVP award.

Walker is now a member of the Carolina Panthers where he’ll be reunited with his former college coach Matt Rhule who is the Panthers new head coach.

The Panthers have made quite a few changes at quarterback this off season. They signed Teddy Bridgewater as a free agent and it appears as though he’ll be their starting quarterback. Kyle Allen who was the starting quarterback for most of last season was traded to the Washington Redskins and then just today the Panthers released Cam Newton. Will Grier who was a 3rd round draft pick last season is the only quarterback still on the roster from last season and it looks like him and Walker will compete to be Bridgewater’s back up.

Now Walker isn’t the only XFL quarterback that’s going to get to go to an NFL camp. Jordan Ta’amu who quarterbacked the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL will be staying close to where he played his XFL games as he signed a deal to join the Kansas City Chiefs.

Obviously it’s clear that Ta’amu isn’t going to be competing with Patrick Mahomes for the Chiefs starting quarterback job, but the only other quarterback Kansas City has on their roster in veteran Chad Henne; so it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if Ta’amu found his way onto the Chiefs roster.

Ta’amu has shown some of the same skill set Mahomes has displayed in the NFL and like I said no one expects Ta’amu to be the Chiefs starter this could be a great landing spot for Ta’amu to learn and possibly develop into an NFL quarterback.

Now Walker wasn’t the only Roughnecks player to sign with an NFL team. Two of his teammates from the defensive side of the football will be in NFL training camps when they open up.

Defensive back Deatrick Nichols who led the XFL in interceptions was signed by the New Orleans Saints. While linebacker DeMarquis Gates has signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

Even though the Saints defense have improved there have always been question about their secondary. Can Nichols help shore that up? Nichols had 3 interceptions along with 17 tackles and 1 sack for Houston; so we’ll see if he can help the Saints.

Gates was second on the Roughnecks in tackles with 25 and tied for the team lead in sacks with 2 and also had an interception.

Minnesota has two quality linebackers in Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks; so it will be interesting to see how they use Gates in their defense.

The New York Giants add to their defensive backfield as they reached out to the XFL and signed Dravon Askew-Henry of the New York Guardians.

The Guardians where thought to be one of the better teams in the XFL coming into the season, but they had a bit of an up and down five games and finished 3-2. Askew-Henry totaled 12 tackles for the Guardians.

When it comes to interesting XFL signings the Los Angeles Chargers may have made the most interesting one. The Chargers have added Dallas Renegades tight end Donald Parham.

Parham had 24 receptions and 4 touchdowns for the Renegades in those 5 XFL games. If you watched the XFL I’m sure you remember the 6 feet 8 inch Parham running away from smaller defensive backs on his 65 yard touchdown reception.

Parham will be 23 years old when the NFL season starts and with Hunter Henry being signed to the franchise tag there may be some opportunities for Parham with the Chargers.

As of right now these are the six XFL players that have signed with NFL teams. Now I’m sure there will be more to come, but out of these six which one are you the most interested to see in the NFL?

With two quarterbacks from the XFL being brought into NFL training camp it brings up an interesting question. Is it possible the XFL could become a developmental league for the NFL? Especially at the quarterback position.

Think about it. There are very few quarterbacks drafted in the later rounds that become quality starting NFL quarterbacks. Now imagine if there was a league that they could go play in and have the chance to play against actually defenses going at full speed even if the competition wasn’t quite at an NFL level. Or maybe you’re not even a late round draft pick, but a free agent that has very little chance to catch on with an NFL team. The XFL could provide this kind of opportunity for quarterbacks especially.

With the XFL set to return next season it will be interesting to see if veteran guys like Landry Jones and Matt McGloin will be the type of quarterback XFL teams go with or if they’ll look at more of the duel threat quarterbacks like Walker and Ta’amu who could possibly turn into serviceable back up NFL quarterbacks or maybe ever starters.

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