The United Football League continues to establish itself as a legitimate pathway to the NFL. With final roster cuts completed for the 2026-27 season, 19 players with UFL, USFL, or XFL experience earned spots on active 53-man NFL rosters.
Another 26 former members of UFL teams landed on practice squads and eight were placed on injured reserve, meaning 53 spring-football alumni remain attached to NFL organizations entering the new season. Two players who competed in the UFL as recently as 2026 — Tay Martin and Ameer Speed — survived final cuts and reached active rosters.
Here are the former UFL players who made active NFL rosters and how much starting potential each carries entering the season.
- Chris Blair, WR, Atlanta Falcons — Blair provides Atlanta with experienced receiver depth after previously playing for the DC Defenders. His initial role should be as a reserve and special-teams option, although injuries ahead of him could create offensive snaps.
- LaCale London, DT, Atlanta Falcons — London has developed into an NFL-caliber interior defensive lineman after his spring-football stint. He projects better as part of Atlanta’s defensive-line rotation than as an every-down starter.
- Nick Moore, LS, Baltimore Ravens — Long snappers operate differently from conventional position players. If Moore remains Baltimore’s designated snapper, he should effectively be a starter on punts and field goals.
- Andre Szmyt, K, Cleveland Browns — Szmyt has one of the clearest opportunities for regular playing time. Kickers who survive final roster cuts generally enter the season with a legitimate chance to handle the job full-time.
- Rex Sunahara, LS, Cleveland Browns — Sunahara should have strong starting potential if he remains Cleveland’s primary long snapper.
Brandon Aubrey, K, Dallas Cowboys — Aubrey is the biggest UFL-to-NFL success story on the list. The former Birmingham Stallions kicker has become one of the NFL’s premier specialists and enters 2026 as an established starter. - Ameer Speed, DB, Dallas Cowboys — Speed recorded 20 tackles in five games for the Houston Gamblers this spring before making Dallas’ roster. He is more likely to begin as a reserve and special-teams contributor than a starting defensive back.
- KaVontae Turpin, WR, Dallas Cowboys — Turpin has already carved out an important NFL role. His greatest value remains in the return game and on designed offensive touches rather than as a traditional starting receiver.
- Dondrea Tillman, LB, Denver Broncos — Tillman gives Denver another pass-rushing option. His most realistic path is as a rotational defender who could earn additional snaps by producing pressure.
- Jake Bates, K, Detroit Lions — Bates’ UFL performance helped launch his NFL career, and he enters the season with legitimate starting-kicker potential for Detroit.
- Tay Martin, WR, Detroit Lions — Martin is one of the biggest 2026 UFL success stories after leading Columbus with 42 catches for 483 yards. He projects as receiver depth initially but could work into a larger role.
- Jacob Saylors, RB, Detroit Lions — Saylors provides backfield depth and should initially compete for situational and special-teams opportunities rather than a starting assignment.
- Daniel Whelan, P, Green Bay Packers — Whelan has converted his DC Defenders opportunity into an established NFL punting career and carries strong starting potential.
- Harrison Mevis, K, Los Angeles Rams — The former Birmingham Stallions kicker made Los Angeles’ active roster and could become another example of a UFL specialist winning an NFL starting job.
- Tucker Addington, LS, Miami Dolphins — Addington’s position gives him an excellent chance to be a weekly starter on Miami’s specialist unit.
- Jalen Redmond, DE, Minnesota Vikings — Redmond has become one of the more successful defensive players to emerge from spring football. He should see regular defensive-line snaps and has a realistic chance to push for an expanded role.
- Jayden Price, CB, New Orleans Saints — Price earned his first opening-week 53-man roster spot after playing for Dallas in the UFL. He projects primarily as secondary depth and a special-teams contributor.
- Elijah Campbell, CB, New York Giants — Campbell brings NFL experience along with his DC Defenders background. He is more likely to contribute in sub-packages and on special teams than hold a permanent starting cornerback job.
- Christian Kuntz, LS, Pittsburgh Steelers — Kuntz has established himself as Pittsburgh’s long snapper, giving him one of the most secure starting roles among former spring-football players.
The numbers reinforce the UFL’s growing importance as a developmental league. Players who once may have disappeared from NFL consideration now have another place to accumulate professional film, and specialists such as Aubrey and Bates have demonstrated that a strong spring season can lead to much more than a temporary NFL training-camp invitation.
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