Over 60 UFL players received NFL tryouts, but when the 53-man rosters were revealed, only one 2025 player, defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey, made the team. Winfrey’s strong preseason outing convinced the Dallas Cowboys management that he belonged on the team. The former Birmingham Stallions ALL-UFL Team standout was credited with six tackles, a huge sack on Atlanta Falcons QB Easton Stick, two quarterback pressures, and a pass defense.
Although former St. Louis Battlehawks kicker Andre Szmyt didn’t play in 2025, he became the second UFL player to make an NFL roster this season. Szymt won the battle to become the Cleveland Browns kicker, beating out NFL veteran Dustin Hopkins. Winfrey and Szymt now join an elite group of more than a dozen former springtime talents who proved themselves worthy of an NFL roster spot.
The Next Best Thing To An NFL Roster
Despite failing to make the team’s 53-man roster, several UFL players made NFL practice squads. The practice squad is the next best thing to an NFL roster signing because it’s a stepping stone to the active roster. NFL teams are allowed to sign 16 players to their practice squad. Throughout the season, squad players are activated to the game-day roster to cover for an injured or inactive player. The squad player is typically activated for a single game and returns to the practice squad the next day.
However, if an individual player is activated for more than three games during an NFL season, league rules require him to be added to the active roster. Many players, including Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert, found their way onto an active NFL roster through the practice squad.
Notable UFL Player Practice Squad Signings
Former UFL MVP quarterback Adrian Martinez spent last year on the New York Jets practice squad. After an impressive preseason performance where he completed 30 of 51 attempts for 351 yards with two interceptions, Martinez was released by the Jets. However, the very next day, Martinez was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad.
Other 2025 UFL talents, including Stallions‘ “Thiccer Kicker” Harrison Mevis, are signed to NFL practice squads. Despite featuring the NFL’s top rushing back duo in David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, the Detroit Lions were impressed enough with Battlehawks’ All-UFL running back Jacob Saylors to offer him one of their practice squad spots.
Battlehawks’ defensive tackle Kyler Baugh (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Michigan Panthers wide receiver Malik Turner (San Francisco 49ers) have been signed to NFL practice squads. Arlington Renegades tight end Sal Cannella made the Cleveland Browns practice squad, while his Renegades teammate, offensive tackle Ricky Lee, made the Jacksonville Jaguars squad.
Despite a late preseason signing and appearing in only the final game, Michigan Panthers’ cornerback Keni-H Lovely made a great impression on the Jaguars. Lovely scored a clutch interception off New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler that resulted in a 17-17 tie. As a result, Lovely joins Lee on the Jags practice squad.
Renegades’ DB Jayden Price was signed to the New Orleans Saints, while Houston Roughnecks cornerback Damon Arnette stays in Houston to sign with the NFL Texans practice squad. Finally, Memphis Showboats center Alec Lindstrom capped his impressive UFL season by signing with the New England Patriots’ practice squad.
Another Advantage of Practice Squad Signings
In addition to being one step closer to an NFL roster, a practice squad signing offers another big advantage to UFL players. The compensation for players making an NFL practice squad is significantly higher than playing on an active UFL roster. The new UFL collective bargaining agreement, signed in 2025, stipulates that players receive a minimum salary of $62,005. In addition to offering year-round healthcare for the players, this figure reflects a $7,005 increase from the minimum player salary of $55,000 in 2024.
By comparison, the NFL practice squad players with two years or less experience will now receive a weekly minimum salary of $13,000 per week. For players who have more than two years of NFL experience, the negotiated figure will be a minimum of $17,000 up to a maximum of $25,000. For a UFL player accustomed to making $62,000 for 10 games, the opportunity to earn between $234,000-$450,000 for the 18-week NFL season is a nice consolation prize for not making the 53-man roster.
Nonetheless, the biggest advantage of a practice squad signing is that these talented players are one step closer to achieving their ultimate dream of playing in the NFL.
1 Comment
by Johnny the Angry Fuzzball
You also have to remember that being on a practice squad and a UFL roster are not mutually exclusive. Without the grind of week-to-week full contact play, it’s feasible to do both… and the national TV coverage that you get playing in the UFL is like being “paid in exposure.” It’s not necessarily an either/or proposition.
I’m liking the ecosystem that’s developing in pro football. You have the NFL at the top, the UFL at the second level, IFL and AF1 at the third, with TAL not far behind. There’s a clear path up (and to a degree, down) that doesn’t necessarily reflect the traditional prospect path.