Seattle Sea Dragons WR Josh Gordon Not Expected to Join Newly-Formed UFL
XFL and USFL fans alike have closely monitored their teams' player acquisitions during the offseason, even with an imminent merger on the horizon. Teams that were reportedly not in the mix for the United Football League in 2024 were announcing signings and Letter of Intent (LOI) commitments from players right up until the merger was officially announced.
For some, the announcements of player additions seemed to be a mute point for teams that were departing from the newly-minted UFL. USFL teams like the Philadelphia Stars and XFL ones like the Vegas Vipers were routinely announcing new player commitments up until the 11th hour.
As it turns out, each one of those transactions had meaning, especially as it pertains to the commencement of Friday's Dispersal Draft for both leagues.
The players who did sign contracts and LOIs for now non-existing XFL and USFL teams are in the dispersal pool.
The 2023 players who have not signed contracts or LOIs will not be in the first phase of the dispersal draft. They are not in the pool for teams to draft.
Josh Gordon starred in the XFL last season but likely won't be joining the UFL in 2024.
It goes without saying that the same can be said for USFL and XFL 2023 players who are currently on NFL teams. There are nearly 40 of them heading into the final week of the NFL regular season.
So when the smoke settles and the league officially releases its draft results, expected on Monday, there will be some surprising standouts from the USFL and XFL in 2023 that are not selected.
One of those names is former NFL standout and 2023 Seattle Sea Dragons wideout Josh Gordon. Sources have indicated for quite some that Gordon has no interest in returning to spring pro football in 2024. He hasn't signed a letter of intent at any point this offseason.
Gordon lending his vast talents to the XFL and Seattle in 2023 was a one-and-done situation. Sources on his Dragons staff last season have informed me that Gordon has told them he is done with the spring league experiment. The Baylor superstar still has aspirations for one more NFL run, but that window could be closed for the cult-favorite pass catcher.
Barring some last-second change of heart where Gordon is swayed to perhaps play in his home state of Texas. For perhaps Houston, Flash's foray into spring ball was a flash in the pan.
In 2023, Gordon was not just a popular name living off his early career exploits. He was one of the XFL's most productive and dynamic wide receivers in 2023, unlike some other mainstream names like Martavis Bryant, who played for Vegas last year and was recently released by the Dallas Cowboys. Gordon showed that he still had "it."
Flash finished the 2023 season with 38 catches for 540 yards and four scores. He was in the top eight in every receiving category.
For those who missed it, the newly merged UFL released details of the first phase of their dispersal draft, albeit with some initial internal confusion about how things would work.
Each existing XFL and USFL team will be allowed to protect up to 42 players from its 2023 roster and select up to 20 players from the rosters of teams from their conference that will not be moving forward in 2024 from their previous league.
The UFL Dispersal Draft has some unique aspects to it. Firstly, the first phase of the dispersal draft is conference only. USFL teams draft from a pool of players from disbanded USFL teams. XFL teams do the same in their conference.
The current Houston Roughnecks, who are in the USFL Conference, are the former Houston Gamblers. So the Roughnecks, Memphis Showboats, Michigan Panthers and Birmingham Stallions are to choose from the Stars, New Jersey Generals, Pittsburgh Maulers, and New Orleans Breakers.
On the XFL side, the D.C. Defenders, San Antonio Brahmas, St. Louis Battlehawks and Arlington Renegades will be drafting from a pool of players from the old Houston Roughnecks, Orlando Guardians, Vipers and Sea Dragons.
Like the marriage between the XFL and USFL that has birthed the United Football League, there could be some unique unions formed after the selections. They just won't include Gordon.
Your favorite Viper might now be a Defender. Case Cookus could be slinging passes to one of his Philadelphia receivers while wearing a Showboats uniform. The possibilities make for the first step in what should be a very unique journey for the UFL.
You can find Mike Mitchell on X @ByMikeMitchell.
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