The newly re-imagined XFL under a new ownership group, headed up by Dany Garcia, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and RedBird Capital Partners, concluded its 2023 season on May 13. That has opened up opportunities for XFL players to sign with NFL teams, with players being allowed to sign NFL contracts starting Monday.
Although there are a couple differences between the two leagues, there were a handful of players from the 2020 version of the XFL who stuck around in the NFL, including Chicago Bears quarterback PJ Walker, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke and Pittsburgh Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz.
Many top XFL players have also drawn interest from NFL teams and have been invited to camps, such as Jachour Pearson, the XFL's leading receiver, as well as the XFL's top pass-rusher, Trent Harris.
Here's a running list of XFL players who have agreed to terms with NFL franchises:
July 27
Kevin Atkins, DT
Signed with: New York Giants
XFL team: St. Louis Battlehawks
Atkins originally signed as an undrafted free agent with the 49ers last season before playing with the Battlehawks this spring, Atkins, who went to Fresno State, had 14 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack for St. Louis.
May 17
Alize Mack, TE
Signed with: Tennessee Titans
XFL team: San Antonio Brahmas
Mack was originally a seventh-round draft pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2019 and has been on the practice squad with four NFL teams. The Notre Dame product caught 28 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown for San Antonio this past season.
Willie Taylor III, LB
Signed with: Jacksonville Jaguars
XFL team: Arlington Renegades
Taylor was one of three XFL players that was eligible for this year's NFL draft. The Eastern Kentucky product had 16 tackles, four sacks and eight tackles for loss for the XFL champion Renegades.
Daniel Whelan, P
Signed with: Green Bay Packers
XFL team: D.C. Defenders
Whelan, who attended college at UC Davis, earned All-XFL honors with the North Division champion Defenders this season, averaging 45.6 yards per punt during the regular season and 53.8 yards per punt in the playoffs.
May 16
Hakeem Butler, WR
Signed with: Pittsburgh Steelers
XFL team: St. Louis Battlehawks
Butler was originally a fourth-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2019 and played two games with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020. Butler blossomed as a tight end in the XFL in 2023, hauling in 51 receptions for 599 yards and eight touchdowns en route to All-XFL honors.
Charleston Rambo, WR
Signed with: Philadelphia Eagles
XFL team: Orlando Guardians
Rambo was signed by the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2022 after playing at Oklahoma and Miami in college. He hasn't played in an NFL game but did well in the XFL in 2023, catching 35 passes for 430 yards and three touchdowns.
Jaryd Jones-Smith, OT
Signed with: Washington Commanders
XFL team: St. Louis Battlehawks
Jones-Smith was originally an undrafted free agent and has played six NFL games (three with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020, three with the Baltimore Ravens in 2021). He was an all-XFL performer this past season, keying a Battlehawks offense that was second in the XFL in scoring.
Gary Jennings, WR
Signed with: Carolina Panthers
XFL team: St. Louis Battlehawks
Jennings was originally a fourth-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 and played one game that season with the Miami Dolphins. He caught 11 passes for 149 yards and three touchdown passes for St. Louis in 2023.
Jordan Thomas, TE
Signed with: Carolina Panthers
XFL team: Orlando Guardians
Originally a sixth-round pick by the Houston Texans in 2018, Thomas caught 20 passes for 215 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie and has spent time with five NFL franchises between 2018 and 2022. He caught eight passes for Orlando this past season for 148 yards and three touchdowns.
May 15
Ben DiNucci, QB
Signed with: Denver Broncos
XFL team: Seattle Sea Dragons
DiNucci has agreed to sign with the Broncos following an outstanding season with the Sea Dragons. DiNucci was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft. He played in three games, starting one, for the Cowboys before being waived in 2022. He was selected by the Sea Dragons in the opening phase of the 2023 XFL Draft.
DiNucci led the Sea Dragons to a 7-3 record and threw for 2,671 yards on 242-of-374 passing with 20 touchdown passes, three rushing touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Bryce Thompson, S
Signed with: Miami Dolphins
XFL team: Seattle Sea Dragons
Thompson went undrafted in the 2021 NFL draft and signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints before being waived in 2022. He signed with the Sea Dragons for the 2023 season and had two interceptions and 34 total tackles.
Jacques Patrick, RB
Signed with: Denver Broncos
XFL team: San Antonio Brahmas
Patrick graduated from Florida State in 2018 and signed with the Tampa Bay Vipers in the 2020 version of the XFL. From there he participated on multiple NFL practice squads, including the Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens.
In Patrick's 2023 XFL season with the Brahmas he had 443 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
Luq Barcoo, CB
Signed with: Pittsburgh Steelers
XFL team: San Antonio Brahmas
Barcoo went undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft and was initially signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars before being waived in 2021. From there he was on and off NFL practice squads, including the Arizona Cardinals, 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets.
With the Brahmas, Barcoo had one interception and 31 total tackles.
C.J. Brewer, DL
Signed with: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
XFL team: Houston Roughnecks
After graduating from Coastal Carolina, Brewer went undrafted in the 2022 NFL draft. He was picked up as a undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills but was released by the team later that year.
He had 17 total tackles, 2.5 sacks and two tackles for a loss for the Roughnecks this season.
Lukas Denis, S
Signed with: Atlanta Falcons
XFL team: St. Louis Battlehawks
Denis briefly played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. He was drafted by the Battlehawks in 2023 and finished the season with 37 total tackles, one sack and two interceptions.
Austin Faoliu, DL
Signed with: Seattle Seahawks
XFL team: Seattle Sea Dragons
Faoliu was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent following the 2021 NFL draft and appeared in one game before being waived in 2022. He made the All-XFL defensive team this year and finished the 2023 season with 24 total tackles, one sack and two tackles for a loss.
Jack Heflin, DL
Signed with: New Orleans Saints
XFL team: Houston Roughnecks
Heflin was signed as a undrafted free agent by the Green Bay Packers in 2021 but was released the following year. In 2022 he has a brief stint with the New York Giants practice squad but was released in 2023.
Heflin made the All-XFL defensive team this season and finished with 25 total tackles, one sack, and three tackles for a loss.
Antwuan Jackson, DL
Signed with: Carolina Panthers
XFL team: Seattle Sea Dragons
Jackson went undrafted in the 2022 NFL draft and had a brief showing at New York Giants minicamps before being drafted by the Sea Dragons in 2023.
Jackson had 20 total tackles and one tackle for a loss for the Sea Dragons.
Niko Lalos, LB
Signed with: New Orleans Saints
XFL team: Seattle Sea Dragons
Lalos was picked up by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and jumped between the active roster and practice squad before being waived in 2022. He had a brief stint with the Saints before signing with the Sea Dragons, where he had 35 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and seven tackles for a loss this past season.
LaCale London, DL
Signed with: Atlanta Falcons
XFL team: St. Louis Battlehawks
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft, London signed with the Chicago Bears, but was waived in 2022. He had 33 tackles, three sacks and five tackles for a loss and was named XFL defensive player of the Week 2 after forcing two fumbles against the Sea Dragons.
John Parker Romo, K
Signed with: Detroit Lions
XFL team: San Antonio Brahmas
Romo signed with the New Orleans Saints as a undrafted free agent in 2022 but was ultimately waived. He was an All-XFL special teams performer, making 17 of 19 field goals.
Barry Wesley, OL
Signed with: Atlanta Falcons
XFL team: Seattle Sea Dragons
Wesley went undrafted out of Colorado State in 2022 and was drafted by the Sea Dragons in 2023. This past year he started five games and was part of a unit that allowed only 11 sacks on the season, second fewest in the XFL.