Things are picking up for the Memphis Showboats, as they acquire players for 2026. Per Pro Football Newsroom sources, WR Kai Locksley and P Matt Mengel are a couple more names who have been brought back. This follows the re-signings of safeties Eli Walker and Amir Riep this week as well.
To be clear: these transactions do not impact the potential relocation of the Memphis Showboats. If the Showboats move, the team and players will be placed in the new market.
WR Kai Locksley
Showboats personnel, including GM Jim Monos, have raved about Kai Locksley. The former QB-turned-wideout was one of those athletes who was underrated during his time in the UFL, but flashed legitimate talent when given the opportunity.
Kai played his college football primarily as a quarterback, with Iowa Western and UTEP. He had an impressive year at Iowa Western, throwing for 2,238 yards and 20 touchdowns, to just six interceptions.
At UTEP, though, Kai struggled to protect the football. Across two years, he threw for 2,266 yards and nine touchdowns, but tossed 14 interceptions. Locksley then had a short stint with the Miami Dolphins – as a wide receiver. He has since remained at WR, playing in the CFL primarily with the Edmonton Elks. In the CFL, Locksley has 345 receiving yards and a touchdown with the Elks and Tiger-Cats. He also threw a few passes with the Elks.
With his 6’4” frame, Kai’s fluid route running abilities make him a versatile weapon at WR. He had 13 catches for 180 yards in 2025, alongside the game-winning two point reception in week eight over the Brahmas.
Once Memphis moved on from Dee Anderson, Locksley saw a larger role within the offense – a unit that never found its groove. If there is more stability across the board in 2026, Kai should benefit greatly from that. Expect to see more of Kai next season.
P Matt Mengel
The Showboats have also brought back long-time spring specialist Matt Mengel. Mengel has been around the block in the alt-football scene. He spent some time in The Spring League with the Conquerors, and was one of the top specialists in that league. Matt actually set a TSL record with his 53 yard field goal in 2020.
Matt dualed as a punter and kicker for the Philadelphia Stars in 2022, but was let go midway through the year. This led to him ultimately making his way to the Pittsburgh Maulers, where he had quite a bit of success.
With the Maulers, Mengel was outstanding. He had 11 punts of 50+ yards in 2023, including a league record 83 yard boot. Unfortunately, the Maulers were dissolved in the merger, and Matt was left without a team.
This past season with the Memphis Showboats, Mengel impressed – despite dealing with the worst protection in the league. Matt had five punts blocked, and multiple inaccurate snaps according to Between The Goalpost’s reporting. Mengel averaged 42.2 yards per punt in 2025, with a net average of 36.9 yards. Notably, Matt didn’t record any touchbacks on his punts – a stat that sets him apart from the rest.
Final Thoughts
Both of these transactions make sense for Memphis. General Manager Jim Monos had the tough task of completely overhauling the Showboats a season ago. This time around, the process will include more re-signings – building around the strong blocks they established in 2025.
Kai Locksley is a wide receiver with plenty of upside, and if unleashed, could easily be a 300+ yard receiver in the league. Meanwhile, Mengel is a trustworthy specialist who simply needs better operations around him in 2026.
Should Kai Locksley be a starter in 2026? How does the team need to improve for Matt Mengel to see more success? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
