When Michigan Panthers quarterback Bryce Perkins was named the UFL League MVP, fans assumed it would be just a matter of time before an NFL team signed him. But instead, he’s among the elite UFL quarterbacks who find NFL success elusive.
Perkins Finds Success in the UFL
A late addition to the Panthers in 2024, Perkins has become one of the UFL’s top quarterbacks. Although his 2024 season was cut short due to injury, Perkins made a strong comeback in 2025, leading his team to the championship game and earning multiple awards. Over the past two seasons, he earned a 70.9 passer rating, completing 139 of 196 passes for 1,685 yards with 11 touchdowns. Perkins added another 450 rushing yards on 67 carries with seven touchdowns.
Perkins Finds NFL Opportunities Scarce
Perkins seemed a sure bet to follow last year’s UFL MVP quarterback Adrian Martinez to the NFL. But instead, the UFL’s Offensive Player of the Year joins other elite UFL quarterbacks who have been similarly overlooked by NFL teams.
After spending almost the entire preseason waiting for an NFL team to call, Perkins was finally contacted by the Carolina Panthers. However, the call came only after veteran quarterback Andy Dalton was injured days before their final preseason game. The team needed Perkins for the finale because the Panthers’ starting quarterback, Bryce Young, wasn’t scheduled to play in the preseason.
Despite having only two days of practice with Carolina, Perkins took the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Splitting time with third-string quarterback Jack Plummer, he completed 10 of 11 passes for 71 yards and added 28 yards with two carries. Even though he took three sacks, Perkins still earned a 79.5 quarterback rating.
Nonetheless, with so little time to prepare, Perkins knew it was a long shot to make the team.
NFL Opportunities Prove Elusive For UFL QBs
It didn’t come as a surprise when Perkins was released during the Panthers’ final cutdowns 53-man squad. Like other elite spring football quarterbacks before him, a successful transition from the spring leagues to the NFL was proving elusive.
Elite spring football veterans, Arlington Renegades quarterback Luis Perez and D.C. Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, tried out with multiple NFL teams over the years. Unfortunately, in every instance, none of the tryouts lasted longer than a few weeks on the team’s practice squad. The competition in training camp is fierce, particularly among the quarterbacks. If a quarterback doesn’t practice with the team’s premier receivers or get enough reps, there really isn’t an opportunity to prove that he deserves a roster spot.
Luis Perez, “The Spring King”
Perez, nicknamed “The Spring King,” is a veteran of the AAF and other previous spring incarnations. Since 2019, Perez has passed for 9,313 yards with 53 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. Although he’s not known for his rushing ability, he added another 216 yards on 75 carries with two touchdowns.
Perez has the distinction of throwing the USFL league’s first touchdown while playing for the New Jersey Generals. A year later, when he was drafted by the Vegas Vipers, Perez scored the XFL league’s first touchdown.
Several weeks later, after he was traded to the struggling XFL Arlington Renegades, Perez guided the team to a mid-season turnaround. That season under his leadership, the Renegades won the XFL Championship over the D.C. Defenders.
When the USFL and XFL merged, it was Perez who tossed the new leagues’ first touchdown when he connected with Isaiah Winstead for a 51-yard score in the inaugural opening game.
Regarded as one of the most prolific and successful spring football quarterbacks, Perez credits preparation and persistence as the key to his success. Always the first one to arrive and the last to leave, he inspires teammates and coaches with his unrelenting work ethic and passionate drive to improve.
Over the years, Perez had offseason workouts with four NFL teams: the L.A. Rams, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Detroit Lions, and the L.A. Chargers. Despite a second stint with the Rams, none of the opportunities lasted more than a month, and he never made the team’s 53-man roster.
Jordan Ta’amu, 2025 UFL Championship Game MVP
NFL success has similarly eluded DC Defenders’ quarterback Ta’amu despite leading his team to an unprecedented 58 points in the UFL Championship game. Awarded the MVP title, Ta’amu set a UFL record of 390 passing yards and five touchdowns in a defeat of the Michigan Panthers by a score of 58-34.
Like Perez, Ta’amu is a spring football veteran, playing in both the USFL and the XFL leagues. He was recognized as the XFL Offensive Player of the Year following a standout season with the 2023 XFL D.C. Defenders. Following his successful spring seasons over the past few years, Ta’amu tried out with six different NFL teams, including two stints each with the Lions and Kansas City Chiefs. The majority of those tryouts ended after only a few days, and Ta’amu didn’t make an active roster.
Why UFL Quarterbacks Are Passed Over By NFL Teams
When it comes to a 53-man roster, teams are notoriously stingy when it comes to the quarterback position, recognizing that depth at other positions is far more valuable during the season.
There is a hierarchy in the NFL with undrafted players viewed as “less desirable” than drafted players. It’s a rarity for a UDFA to be given a roster spot over a drafted rookie. The team has a vested financial interest in ensuring the rookie is given every opportunity to succeed.
Furthermore, a drafted veteran player with NFL experience ranks higher than a UDFA. Even the last player drafted each year, the “Mr. Irrelevants” of that season, stands a better chance of making the roster. This is especially true in recent years, with standout talents such as the San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy and Detroit Lions LB Grant Stuard having that distinction.
Finally, another potential hurdle facing spring football quarterbacks is their college background. Although Ta’amu transferred to Ole Miss for his final two years of eligibility, Perez played for a Division II school, Texas A&M-Commerce. Despite being awarded the 2017 Harlan Hill Trophy as the best Division II player and leading his team to a National Championship, not coming from a Division I program counts against him.
Former Chicago Bears UDFA Tyson Bagent remains the only Division II quarterback to make a team’s 53-man roster. Like Perez, Bagent was awarded the Harlon Hill Trophy. During the 2023 season, he appeared in five games for the Bears, starting four and earning a 2-2 record.
Where Does This Leave Perkins and Other Aspiring UFL Quarterbacks?
Unfortunately, at this point in the NFL season, the only way a UFL quarterback could be signed to an NFL team is if a rostered quarterback is injured. While no one wants to think of that happening, injuries are an all too frequent consequence of the game. The advantage of a UFL quarterback who just visited a team’s training camp, is in shape and already familiar with the playbook. That’s a huge advantage over an NFL veteran who may not have played recently.
Sometimes, all it takes for NFL success is the right opportunity at the right time. The MVP Super Bowl-winning quarterback of the 2000 St. Louis Rams team was Kurt Warner, the most successful UDFA of all time. While Kurt Warner-type scenarios are extremely rare, who’s to say that a UFL quarterback won’t become the next Warner?
5 Comments
by Adam Simon
Do you believe that is why many fringe nfl quarterbacks don’t come to the UFL? Especially with the lack of immediate success of a Kellen Mond or Anthony Brown – I think those players are scared to lose what little opportunity they might have left. A dream boat scenario would be the return of the New Jersey Generals with Tommy DeVito at quarterback. But I would imagine DeVito gets picked up by someone in this long NFL season.
by Ken Granito
I truly felt that too with Tommy DeVito. I think he would have even enjoyed it, but we knew that would not happen. As it turns out the Patriots already got him, which if they didn’t someone else would’ve.
It’s funny. It’s clear the NFL does not want to use UFL skill players, but to me it also seems the UFL doesn’t really sign many NFL fringe quarterbacks either. I don’t know if the players are afraid of injury or performing poorly. I have heard the UFL saying they want to stay younger, but, to me, it’s more important for the UFL to have the best possible quarterbacking, then to spend every game trying to find their diamond in the rough. Hoping for more experienced quarterbacks in this league, especially in St. Louis where a experience and talent is truly needed. To show the importance of this, I would bring in 4 QBs with the likes of Blaine Gabbert of St. Louis, Ben DiNucci if he is still active, Taylor Heinicke, AJ McCarron, Reid Sinnett, John Wohlford who physically ran Sean McVay’s offense or McLeod Bethel Thompson being in group 1. You bring in Dorian Thompson Robinson, Desmond Ridder, Matt Corral or Alex McGough if you want a running threat which would be group 2 and you can keep the future Battlehawks QB like Austin Reed, Devin Leary or Michael Pratt which would be group 3.
That is how important the QB is to the UFL.
If we could get the Generals and how I would be a season ticket holder, it would be great to get whoever is in group 1 that couldn’t sign with the Battlehawks, maybe AJ McCarron…..if he doesn’t sign in Birmingham. Think about that QB room. McCarron, Smith and Peasley and bring in a 4th to compete with. I mean they are talking about filling seats in Alabama, right?. Either way. I know we are finishing up week 1 in the NFL, but already updating my UFL prospects list. Some interesting people have been let go by NFL teams. I know injuries happen so players will want to keep themselves ready, but I expect players that are still considered NFL prospects that are fringe players might look to prove themselves in the UFL THIS year. So players such as Pierre Strong, Austin Reed, Devin Leary, Taylor Heinicke, Desmond Ridder, Deuce Vaughn, Myles Gaskin, Marquez Callaway, Quintez Cephus, KJ Hamler, Trenton Irwin, Kyle Phillips, Peyton Hendershot, Ja’Tyre Carter, Kenyon Green, Doug Kramer, Isaiah Prince as well as some people in the secondary who might want to play in the UFL this year to show they can take the next step. To me it is very clear the UFL starters are right in line with practice squad and fringe NFL players that it is a good place to show your wares.
by Adam Simon
Does the UFL draft both Sanders brothers to boost conversation with the league?
by King Bomp
If the chance of a spring league quarterback making an NFL practice roster is non-existent, it’s a little surprising they don’t take their talents north of the border. Elite UFL quarterbacks would make more money in the CFL than in the UFL. They could command $10,000 CAD per game or more.
The Montreal Alouettes are in desperate need of a QB as they are using their fourth stringer due to injures. The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers will develop and succession plan due to age and injury. Franchises like Edmonton and Ottawa could use a more skilled mobile QB. There are some opportunities for UFL quarterbacks in the CFL.
by Ken Granito
I agree on Canada. The one problem. It’s harder to go from Canada to America. I feel that would make it easier to go to Canada, but harder to play in America afterwards. To those giving up the dream of playing in the NFL, it might be the better situation. So if a player such as Bryce Perkins felt the NFL was no longer an option, he might be open to the CFL, however playing in the NFL is an option for him. I prefer to see him playing for the Michigan Panthers. I mean I just got my Perkins tee. I would love to see MBT in St. Louis, but it really is an option. Already from the legacy UFL Jack Coan, Josh Love, James Morgan, Max Duggan, Shea Patterson, Terry Wilson, Bryan Scott and PJ Walker have made their way to the CFL after failing in the US. I do know what your saying, maybe a bigger strike for say the Elks.