We are deep in the UFL offseason. So deep, that I took to “X” for this content idea – asking United Football League fans which UFL players deserve an opportunity in the NFL.
There are dozens of names that come to mind, but let’s take a look at some of the most popular answers from yesterday’s unofficial survey.
K Rodrigo Blankenship – St. Louis Battlehawks
Right off the bat, the player with the most comments was Rodrigo Blankenship – the All-UFL kicker with the Battlehawks this past season.
Blankenship connected on 21 of 22 field goal attempts in the UFL. His long of 56 yards looked easy, showcasing his strong leg, paired with NFL-level accuracy. Rodrigo has legitimate NFL experience as a starting kicker with the Colts, and should be back on an NFL roster sooner than later.
WR Deon Cain – Birmingham Stallions
Deon Cain has been one of spring football’s best at the WR position for a few years now. Deon joined the Birmingham Stallions for the USFL’s 2023 season. He was a key piece to their Championship run, not just as a wide receiver, but also as a specialist. Cain took two kicks to the house that year, showcasing his unbelievable speed. On top of that, Deon had an outstanding performance in the Championship game against Pittsburgh, earning MVP honors of that game with three touchdowns.
Cain racked up 514 yards and six touchdowns – making contested catch after contested catch this season. Deon did sign with the Buffalo Bills this past preseason, but was let go during camp cutdowns.
LB Willie Harvey Jr. – St. Louis Battlehawks
Willie Harvey Jr. has consistently gotten better throughout each season with the Battlehawks the last few years. Willie’s one of the top linebackers in the league, setting franchise records with St. Louis while earning All-UFL honors the last couple of years. He’s a physical linebacker who always finds himself around the ball at the line of scrimmage, with 29 defensive stops to his name. Harvey posted an outstanding 91.4 Defensive Grade in 2025, the highest of any player in the league.
S Leon O’Neal Jr. – Houston Roughnecks
There weren’t many players in the UFL who played with more passion, energy, and drive than Leon O’Neal. He was outstanding in his debut season with the Houston Roughnecks, leading the way for a defense that played strong, stout football from week to week.
At 26 years old, O’Neal is peaking at the right time. He’s in prime shape, and is coming off a season where he played the best football of his pro career.
WR Hakeem Butler – St. Louis Battlehawks
The Battlehawks were very popular during yesterday’s survey, with a few others who could have been mentioned. Hakeem Butler rounds up our list, though, as one of the UFL’s top receivers the past few years. Hakeem has racked up over 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns across that span, earning a couple of camp gigs with the Bengals and Steelers. He’s never had a chance to stick around in the NFL, though, despite his 6’6” frame – and unbelievable catch radius.
Final Thoughts
Obviously, there are a lot of UFL players who deserve an opportunity at the next level. We saw nearly 70 athletes sign NFL contracts this year alone, with 20+ UFL/XFL/USFL alumni seeing time on active rosters in the NFL during the 2025 season.
With it being this late in the cycle, odds are we won’t see more UFL to NFL signings this year. That said, you can stay up to date on all UFL to NFL movement with our official tracker.
Who do you think deserves a chance in the NFL? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
