Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Initial XFL Draft Pool Includes a Few Former Lions
The XFL is making its return in 2020, and the league will hold its draft October 15-16.
With the XFL draft right around the corner, the initial wave of players to accept invites from the XFL has been released.
Here's the list of draft-eligible players that formerly spent time in Detroit:
QB Connor Cook
Cook may be better known for his playing days at Michigan State. However, let's not forget he also was on the Lions' roster this offseason.
Before the 2019 preseason even started, Cook was waived by the Lions in favor of fellow passer David Fales. Fales also failed to make the team.
Cook was originally selected by the Oakland Raiders in the 2016 NFL Draft.
His only NFL start came in a playoff loss during his rookie season with the Raiders.
OT Storm Norton
Norton, a local product out of Toledo, signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2017.
The 6-foot-7 tackle bounced on and off the practice squad, and spent a few days on Detroit's 53-man roster.
Norton never ended up seeing any regular season action with the Lions, but he did dress for a game while with the Minnesota Vikings last season.
Between his stint with the Lions and Vikings, he was picked up by and played briefly for the Arizona Cardinals.
TE Khari Lee
Lee was claimed off waivers by the Lions after the final preseason roster cuts of the 2016 season.
He appeared in eight games for the Lions as a reserve.
The marriage didn't last long, as he was released in November of the same year.
He was, however, signed back to the practice squad, which he parlayed into a reserve/future contract for the following season.
Ultimately, he wouldn't play another regular season down for the "Honolulu Blue."
After leaving Motown, he spent two more years in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills. In his four-year NFL career, he caught two passes for 12 yards.
CB Raysean Pringle
Pringle was an ephemeral fan hit due to his catchy last name and its closeness in spelling to the stackable potato chips brand "Pringles."
The fun stopped for Pringle in June of 2018 when the Lions cut ties with him. His release came only two months after the Lions had signed him.
As a former running back from Utah State, he made the switch over to the defensive side of the ball once he reached the NFL in 2017. The move never amounted to any regular season action, though.
He did, however, enjoy some success in "The Spring League" before signing with the Lions.
If you are wondering why the league sounds familiar, it's because the league received some national publicity in 2018 after signing former Heisman-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel to a contract.
The first full group of draft-eligible players can be found in the tweet below.
Update
The XFL announced that wide receiver Ryan Broyles is also among the players who will enter their draft pool. Broyles was drafted by the Lions in 2012 in the second round.
Broyles was released in 2015 and has not played a down in the NFL in four years.
