The 2025 Battlehawks room may have been a season of Two steps forward Three steps back. After making the decision to jettison Two Year starter A.J. McCarron, the Battlehawks went into 2025 with Manny Wilkins, and Max Duggan fighting for the QB1 spot going into the opener. The team also drafted and signed Chevan Cordeiro as a commitment to the “youth-movement” opting not to have Brandon Silvers on the roster going into the season.
The Battlehawks would roster Five different Quarterbacks in 2025, bringing back Brandon Silvers and rostering Trae Self (Stephen F. Austin alum), while dealing with injuries to Manny Wilkins, and Chevan Cordeiro. 4 out of 5 Battlehawk QBs would appear in a game this year the most in the four years of the franchise.
The Battlehawks saw an extremely dynamic Quarterback room, compared to the previous years however, their output in the air was less than optimal compared to the years of A.J. McCarron under center. The Battlehawks leaned on the athletic ability of Quarterbacks Max Duggan, and Manny Wilkins who accounted for 436 rushing yards and 7 rushing TDs. Through the air both Quarterbacks had issues pushing the ball down the field, timing, and overall pocket awareness. Wilkins would tear his achilles possibly putting his career in jeopardy, while Duggan would be benched for Brandon Silvers in the playoffs before a broken scapula knocked Silvers out of the game himself.
With the Battlehawks seemingly trying and needing to get younger it may be safe to assume that Brandon Silvers and Manny Wilkins may not be the first ones to receive a phone call from GM Dave Boller, and HC Anthony Becht going into 2026. The Battlehawks seem to have been extremely supportive with Max Duggan, who led the team to a 5-0 regular season record before his playoff performance. While Duggan has all the “tools and traits” to be successful at a high level, his elongated and abnormal throwing motion has affected his release time, in addition to the quick game that made A.J. McCarron so effective in years past.
The Battlehawks do also roster Chevan Cordeiro, who maybe deserves an extended look this season, after spending the majority of 2025 on injured reserve and as QB3. Cordeiro played in one series during the 2025 season against the D.C. Defenders in Week 10.
While the position isn’t on high alert, there is plenty of evidence that the team is limited with Duggan under center. The vertical passing attack, and quick game does take a step back, with the majority of “splash” plays coming from Duggan using his legs, and broken coverages. The team saw what a “humming” offense could look like under Silvers, despite limited opportunities.
The Battlehawks through the air managed to throw for 1,456 and 7 TDs both franchise lows with the exception of the 2020 season, A long cry from the 39 TDs and almost 4k passing yards McCarron put up in 17 games in his Two season in St. Louis.
Coach Becht has stated that the Battlehawks offensive identity mirrors that of Sean McVey and Matt LeFleur led teams, which it appears Duggan or Wilkins cannot provide. The Battlehawks have won 22 games under Head Coach Anthony Becht and it seems that each year the ball has bounced the wrong way for the team.
In 2023, the team narrowly missed the playoffs despite a 7-3 record. In 2024, A.J. McCarron dealt with an ankle injury that hindered his mobility. In 2025, the team made the switch to Brandon Silvers who ultimately, injured his shoulder as the team was moving the ball effectively down the field.
For a team that has the most support in the UFL, and is on the cusp of winning a championship, it is evident that Coach Becht and GM Dave Boller have a lot of work to do, in an effort to bring a championship to the UFL’s premiere fan base.
5 Comments
by Adam Simon
You have to keep Duggan!! Does Wilkins and Silvers want to come back. (Free Agency??) Corderio is interesting because you invested a pick in him but how important is that?
by Patrick Rifino
Silvers runs the offense the best on that team.
by Adam Simon
I agree he is the closest they have to McCarron. Can Seneca Wallace fix Duggan’s throwing mechanics? Does Becht or St. Louis beg for McCarron’s return? Can Manny Wilkins run like he used to post injury? Do you give Corderio a chance? Still less questions than other teams in UFL.
by Ken Granito
Anthony Becht just needs to get over his fear of veteran QBs. It seems to me that his need to be the smartest man in the room has really limited the chops a Quarterback can have in the best market. Let’s face it AJ McCarron was so upset at his coaching staff, because he felt the staff did not put them in the best place to win. Now that McCarron is gone Becht & Boller sign three young quarterbacks on the same day and expected to have a strong quarterback play. I think it is fair to say as much as I felt McCarron was throwing his coaches under the bus, but strategically he was correct. Does anyone really feel that Becht’s “youth movement” was the correct approach? I am still waiting a team other than an Anthony Becht led team to sign Manny Wilkins. My hope is that it is realized by either Becht or the UFL that the St. Louis fans are the best fans in the UFL and that they deserve better and look at the following list for their QB search:
Matt Corral
Alex McGough
J’Mar Smith
Adrian Martinez
Danny Etling
EJ Perry
Kevin Hogan
CJ Beathard
Carter Bradley
Ben DiNucci
Jeff Driskel
Blaine Gabbert
Brett Gabbert
Chase Garbers
AJ McCarron
Nate Sudfeld
Reid Sinnett
Logan Woodside
McLeod Bethel-Thomspson
Chase Brice
Trey Lance
PJ Walker
John Wolford
Bailey Zappe
Some of these can be 2nd string, but I think all of these players bring something to help lead the Battlehawks back to their once dominant offense.
by Gary Winter
Brady Cook, the former Mizzou QB would be another to add to that list if he doesn’t make the Jets roster. It’d be a great PR move but then again PR isn’t this league’s strong suit.