Yesterday was the final stretch for all 32 NFL teams taking their final 80-man preseason rosters and slicing them down to the final 53-man regular-season roster. The cut-down day has 864 players that, for a lot in seasons past, was the end of the line and the end of their chances of becoming professional football players. While this may be the case in prior years, spring football in 2023 brings a unique opportunity for many players who thought this was the end of the line to start a new journey. One could lead to the 2023 XFL Season that begins on February 18th, 2023. Spring Football is back and bigger than ever in 2023, with the XFL taking the stage front and center a week after Superbowl 57.
Here are ten men from yesterday’s final cuts that stand out the most that the XFL should be signing for the 2023 season.
QB – Josh Rosen
Even before yesterday’s cuts, Josh Rosen has been on my list of who should be a starting quarterback in the XFL for the 2023 season. Josh Rosen is a 6’4, 226-pound Quarterback that was selected in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round, the 10th overall pick. He was the fourth quarterback chosen during that draft and one of five that would be taken during the first round of the 2018 draft. Rosen would finish his rookie season with 2,278 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions as the Cardinals would finish 3-12.
He would be traded the following year to the Miami Dolphins after the Cardinals would draft Kyler Murray first overall in 2019; unfortunately, he would not get much of a chance in Miami either, and the following year would find the same fate again when Miami Dolphins would draft Tua Tagovailoa fifth overall in 2020 NFL Draft. Josh Rosen has only played in a total of 24 NFL games and started 16 of those for 3 different teams. Josh Rosen was cut yesterday by the Cleveland Browns and could quickly get the right opportunity he deserves in the XFL this upcoming season; if I was the XFL, this is one quarterback I’d go after immediately.
QB – Logan Woodside
Logan Woodside is no stranger to spring football, let alone to San Antonio, Logan Woodside, who the Tennessee Titans cut yesterday, hasn’t exactly got the shot he needs to shine. He did sign back with the Titan’s practice squad today; I still think he would be a great quarterback to get an opportunity in the XFL. He would start in seven games, completing 112 passes out of 192 for 1,353 yards with 7 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, and would rush for 43 yards.
Oddly enough, with him being the starting quarterback for the San Antonio Commanders, Hines Wards is the head coach of the San Antonio team and was the Head of Football Development and spent a lot of time in San Antonio during the AAF season. It could be a situation where if the Titans release him from the practice squad, the XFL could swoop in and grab him and possibly see him in San Antonio again.
Safety – Kenny Robinson
Kenny Robinson was a college player who decided to take his talent to the XFL and was the only player eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft playing during the 2020 XFL season. Kenny Robinson chooses instead to sit out the 2019 season as part of a transfer. He would be drafted in October 2019 by the St. Louis Battlehawks in the 5th round, 39th overall of Phase 4 of the defensive backs. He would then take online college classes during the season that XFL paid for. In the XFL in 2020, Kenny Robinson would be a difference maker for the team and started all five games where he had 21 tackles, two interceptions, and a sack. He would be nominated for the XFL’s Star of the Week.
When the XFL shut down, he would go into the NFL Draft and be selected by the Carolina Panthers with the 152nd pick in the fifth round, making him the first XFL player to be drafted into the NFL. He would spend time with the Panther’s practice squad and then be elevated to the roster in October 2020 and then again in October of 2021; in week six of the NFL season against the Minnesota Vikings, he would score his first NFL touchdown on a special teams play in which he recovered a punt blocked.
He would get into a scuffle during the 2022 pre-season team training against the Patriots, where he would get into a fight with another player and was kicked out of practice twice. His actions were very inexcusable and disgusting, based on the reports. I feel that he could still make a difference in the XFL as he did in 2020, and his head coach in St. Louis, Jonathan Hayes is now the offensive coordinator in Arlington with Bob Stoops. Could Kenny Robinson be on their radar if he gets a draft invite?
RB- Marlon Mack
What came as a surprise to a lot in Houston running back Marlon Mack, who was drafted out of South Florida by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft with career stats of playing 47 games, starting 23 of them with 2,484 rushing yards, 20 rushing touchdowns, 57 receptions and 448 receiving yards with two receiving touchdowns could be a great addition to any XFL team in the 2023 season. Marlon would be released in Houston yesterday to make room for rookie Dameon Pierce. While Marlon is another player who signed back with the Houston practice squad today, it would be a good possibility that he could end up in the XFL in 2023.
WR- Michael Bandy
The San Diego Chargers had quite a talented wide receiver on their roster in Bandy; he was rated as one of the best receivers during the preseason and played well among the Charger’s first-team starters. Bandy would play in the Spring League in 2020 after not being drafted but would sign with the Chargers just over a year ago. He would get put on the practice squad and then elevated to the team on December 26th, 2021, against the Texans, making his NFL debut, where he would have four receptions for 88 yards.
Just over the past few weeks, Bandy would stand out and play all three games for the Chargers in the preseason, scoring two touchdowns and 18 receptions for 172 yards. Unfortunately, he did not make the team, but Bandy would be a good fit in the XFL to get the opportunity like fellow teammate on the Chargers Donald Parham did in 2020 with the Dallas Renegades. He could take what he has learned so far and apply that in the XFL to get another chance in the NFL.
RB- Philip Lindsay
Philip Lindsay would be an instant star in Denver when he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Denver Broncos on May 1st, 2018. Lindsay, a Colorado Native going to the CU Buffalos, would prove his willingness and talent in the 2018 season, playing in 15 games with over 192 rushing attempts for 1,037 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 35 receiving receptions for 241 yards and 1 touchdown. He would make the 2018 pro bowl and receive the Pro Football Writers of American NFL All-Rookie Team, the fourth Broncos running back to receive this award.
Over his four years in the NFL, he would play with the Denver Broncos for two years and then go to Texans, Dolphins, and Colts, where he would be cut as of yesterday. Philip Lindsay could make a run for any running backs money in the XFL, and any team would be fighting over to draft him. During his four years in the NFL, he would play in 56 games with 622 rushing attempts for 2,799 yards and 18 touchdowns. On the receiving side of things, he would have 81 receptions for 510 yards with 2 touchdowns. If I were the XFL, I’d be reaching out to him as we have yet to see any interest from an NFL team.
WR – Alex Bachman
Alex Bachman tried to make a name for himself during the 2022 NFL preseason with the New York Giants but did not make the final 53-man roster after yesterday’s cuts. A stand out in the preseason catching 19 receptions for 166 yards with 2 touchdowns. Bachman played for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons for four seasons and finished his collegiate career with 82 receptions for 1,162 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 32 games. He didn’t ever fully catch on with the Giants due to injury, being on and off the practice squad, and only playing in two NFL games since 2019. Bachman is one of those players just trying to get a chance to make a difference and showed it in the preseason; now, with many options ahead of him, the XFL could be a landing spot for him to revamp and get some more tape to regenerate his NFL career.
DT – Trevon Coley
Coley was another preseason standout that could easily make his way onto an XFL team; the defensive tackle played in all three Chicago Bears games, where he would be a force to be wrecking with, have 5 kits, including 3 for a loss, 3 sacks, and 6 quarterback hits. Coley has been on nine NFL teams since being signed by the Baltimore Ravens back in 2016 after going undrafted. His NFL career statistics through last season were 100 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries; Coley is another player who hasn’t caught on with any teams and could be resigned by the Bears for their practice squad. Either way, Coley should be on an XFL roster in 2023 to get the ball running in his career.
DB – Grant Haley
Grant Haley, who was best known for returning a blocked field goal against the undefeated 2016 Ohio State Buckeyes with Penn State and winning the game for them, would be signed as an undrafted free agent. He would be signed to the active roster in October 2018 and be ranked as the 4th best rookie cornerback by Pro Football Focus. He wouldn’t play again until week 17 of the Saints season, when he would record his first career interception off a pass thrown by Teddy Bridgewater in a 33-7 win over the Panthers.
He would be waived by the Saints in 2021 and end up with the Los Angeles Rams on their practice squad until January 8th of this year, when he would win a Super Bowl when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals. During his career in the NFL, he has played in 31 games, has 75 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 interception.
QB- Nathan Peterman
Nathan Peterman is a well-known quarterback in the NFL who deserves a chance to show his talent, and what not better place to do so than the XFL? Nathan started his football career at the University of Tennessee for his first and second years. He then finished up at the University of Pittsburgh, where he excelled as a fantastic quarterback. During college, Nathan would throw 398 completions for 5,236 yards with 47 touchdowns and only 17 interceptions.
He would be drafted by Buffalo in 2017 and play with two entire teams between the Bills and the Raiders, including a postseason game. He would end up being picked up by the Chicago Bears in may but would not make the team’s final roster cutdown. Today he would sign onto their practice squad; despite this, Nathan Peterman is just another quarterback that hasn’t latched onto a team but could make a run at starting for an XFL team.
Peterman’s NFL career, which includes the post-season game, has a total of 11 games he’s played in, 4 of which he started. He completed 72 passes for 587 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Along with one rushing touchdown. Could we see Peterman in the XFL to start on a new journey?
As the days go on towards the XFL draft in November, there will be a lot of transactions throughout the NFL that could lead to any of these ten players winding up with a draft invite by the XFL. Stay tuned for any XFL updates right here on XFLnewshub.com.
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