2020 XFL draft
The 2020 XFL Draft was the inaugural player selection process for the revived XFL professional American football league's debut season, held via conference call on October 15 and 16, 2019, to build 71-man rosters for each of its eight teams from a pool of approximately 1,000 eligible players.[1] The draft featured a distinctive five-phase format designed to prioritize positional needs, beginning with one quarterback pre-assigned to each team prior to selections.[1] Phases 1 through 4 consisted of 10 rounds each—covering skill positions (quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends), offensive line, defensive front seven (defensive linemen and linebackers), and secondary (cornerbacks and safeties)—while Phase 5 allowed an open selection of remaining players, including specialists, until rosters were filled.[1] The draft order reversed after each round within a phase and rotated starting teams across phases, with the D.C. Defenders selecting first in Phase 1 and the Los Angeles Wildcats leading Phase 2.[1] Notable selections included former NFL quarterback Landry Jones, pre-assigned to the Dallas Renegades, and ex-Oakland Raiders quarterback Connor Cook, selected by the Houston Roughnecks in Phase 1.[2] Other prominent picks encompassed wide receiver Rashard Davis (D.C. Defenders, Phase 1, first overall), quarterback P.J. Walker (pre-assigned to Houston Roughnecks), and quarterback Cardale Jones (pre-assigned to D.C. Defenders).[2] The rosters formed through the draft supported the XFL's 2020 season, which launched on February 8, 2020, with innovative rules like kickoffs from the 35-yard line and a simplified extra-point system.[3] However, after completing five weeks of play, the league suspended operations indefinitely on March 12, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the season incomplete and preventing a championship game.[4] The XFL's parent company, Alpha Entertainment, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 13, 2020, citing the abrupt shutdown as the primary cause, which led to the league's assets being sold for $15 million later that year.[5] Despite the short-lived season, several drafted players, such as quarterback P.J. Walker and safety Kenny Robinson, parlayed their XFL performances into NFL opportunities.Background
XFL Reboot and Context
In January 2018, WWE executive Vince McMahon announced the relaunch of the XFL, founding the league as a successor to the original 2001 iteration that had folded after one season.[6] McMahon positioned the reboot to emphasize faster-paced football and enhanced entertainment, distinct from the spectacle-heavy "gimmicks" of the prior version, while funding the venture primarily from his personal resources.[7] The league aimed to deliver innovative rules that would streamline play and appeal to fans seeking an alternative to traditional professional football.[8] On December 5, 2018, XFL commissioner Oliver Luck revealed the eight host markets for the inaugural teams: Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Washington, D.C., with venues selected to accommodate affordable, family-oriented events.[9] The team names and logos were unveiled on August 21, 2019: Dallas Renegades, DC Defenders, Houston Roughnecks, Los Angeles Wildcats, New York Guardians, Seattle Dragons, St. Louis BattleHawks, and Tampa Bay Vipers.[10] These franchises were structured under centralized league control, without individual ownership, to maintain uniformity in operations.[11] The 2020 XFL introduced several rule innovations to differentiate from the NFL and the original XFL, prioritizing player safety and game flow; for instance, traditional kickoffs were eliminated in favor of a modified setup where the receiving team aligns at its 30-yard line and the coverage unit at the 35, with the kick originating from the kicking team's 30-yard line to minimize high-speed collisions.[3] An alternative to onside kicks allowed teams attempting recovery to opt for a fourth-and-15 play from their own 28-yard line, promoting strategic decisions over random bounces.[12] Following league formation in 2018 and team announcements in 2018–2019, the player draft was scheduled for October 15–16, 2019, to assemble rosters ahead of the February 2020 season start.[2]Player Eligibility and Pool
The 2020 XFL draft pool was open to players without active NFL contracts, drawing from a diverse group that included former NFL veterans, athletes who had signed with other professional leagues such as the Canadian Football League (CFL) and Alliance of American Football (AAF), and standout college performers. The folding of the AAF in March 2019 provided a significant influx of experienced players to the pool. Unlike the NFL's strict requirement of being at least three years removed from high school graduation, the XFL adopted more flexible eligibility criteria, permitting select players with remaining collegiate eligibility to enter the pool; however, only one such player, safety Kenny Robinson of the St. Louis BattleHawks, ultimately participated in the league.[3][13][14] The eligible player pool exceeded 1,000 individuals, incorporating talent from domestic college programs, international prospects, and other professional circuits to build competitive rosters. All participants in the pool had received formal invitations from XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck and successfully completed background checks prior to the draft. This broad sourcing aimed to balance youth and experience while avoiding direct competition with active NFL personnel.[15][16] Recruitment efforts emphasized scouting accessible talent through open tryouts conducted in 2019 across at least eight U.S. cities, including Dallas, Houston, New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Seattle, Tampa Bay, and St. Louis. These summer showcase events allowed aspiring players to demonstrate skills in front of league personnel, contributing to the identification of draft-eligible candidates. Following initial evaluations, teams held mini-camps starting in December 2019, where approximately 568 players across the eight franchises were assembled for further assessment ahead of the January training camps in Houston.[17][18] A key characteristic of the player pool was its heavy reliance on seasoned professionals to accelerate roster competitiveness, with 207 of the 416 players on final regular-season rosters having recent NFL team affiliations within the prior six months. This focus on veterans—many of whom were former NFL backups or practice squad members—ensured immediate viability for the league's inaugural season, while still providing opportunities for emerging talents from non-NFL pathways.[3]Draft Preparation
Team Structure and Selection Order
The 2020 XFL featured eight teams organized into East and West divisions primarily for scheduling and playoff purposes, with the East including the D.C. Defenders, New York Guardians, St. Louis BattleHawks, and Tampa Bay Vipers, and the West comprising the Dallas Renegades, Houston Roughnecks, Los Angeles Wildcats, and Seattle Dragons.[19][20] This divisional structure facilitated a 10-game regular season where teams played divisional opponents twice and non-divisional foes once, but it had no bearing on the draft selection order, which was handled league-wide without conference-based seeding.[21] The draft order for each of its five main phases was determined independently through a blind randomized lottery supervised by XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck, conducted via video conference call among team representatives to draw numbers and assign picking positions anew for every phase.[22][23][24] This approach aimed to promote competitive balance by avoiding persistent advantages for any team across the multi-phase process. Roster construction targeted an initial selection of 70 players per team through the main draft phases, plus one pre-allocated Tier 1 quarterback, totaling 71 draftees drawn from a pool of roughly 1,000 opt-in eligible players.[22] Post-draft, these expanded rosters underwent trimming during training camp in late 2019 and January 2020, reducing to 52 active players per team for the season, all eligible for game-day use; the league maintained a centralized practice squad of 40 players shared across all teams to provide depth and injury replacements as needed.[3][25] Selections were guided by each team's head coach and director of player personnel, who collaborated on evaluations and final calls during the two-day draft event, subject to a strict 90-second timer per pick to maintain pace across the 71 rounds.[15][24][26] For instance, Dallas Renegades' director Daryl Johnston worked alongside head coach Bob Stoops to shape their selections, reflecting the dual leadership model employed league-wide.[26]Pre-Draft Rules and Allocations
The 2020 XFL draft employed a multi-phase format divided into five distinct phases based on position groups, followed by open rounds to complete rosters. Phase 1 focused on skill players (quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends), Phase 2 on offensive linemen, Phase 3 on the defensive front seven (defensive linemen and linebackers), Phase 4 on defensive backs, and Phase 5 as an open draft for remaining positions including specialists. This structure allowed teams to build balanced rosters systematically, with each team selecting 10 players in Phases 1 through 4 and 30 players in Phase 5. The selection order utilized a serpentine (snake) format, where the order reversed after each round to enhance competitive balance among the eight teams; the initial order for each phase was determined by a blind lottery.[15][27][22] A key pre-draft allocation involved the eight Tier 1 quarterbacks, who were assigned directly to teams rather than being selected in the draft. Each team's head coach and general manager submitted a ranked list of preferred quarterbacks from a pool of top candidates, and the league assigned one to each franchise to ensure high-quality signal-callers across all teams and promote parity. This process occurred prior to the main draft, exempting these players from the selection pool and integrating them into the 71-man preseason rosters.[28][22][15] The draft itself was executed remotely via conference call over two days, October 15 and 16, 2019, without a live television or streaming broadcast. Instead, selections were announced in real-time through the XFL's official social media channels, allowing fans to follow updates as they occurred. In total, the draft comprised 70 rounds and resulted in 560 selections (70 players per team), filling out the rosters alongside the pre-assigned quarterbacks; teams had 90 seconds per pick and were unable to trade selections during the process.[29][30][31][1]Main Draft Phases
Phase 0: Tier 1 Quarterback Allocations
The Phase 0 of the 2020 XFL draft focused exclusively on allocating Tier 1 quarterbacks to ensure each of the league's eight teams began with a presumptive starting signal-caller of high caliber, thereby avoiding direct competition for these positions in the subsequent draft rounds. This step was designed to provide roster stability and allow teams to build around experienced or promising quarterbacks from the outset, drawing from a pool of players who had cleared background checks and demonstrated professional or elite college-level potential.[3] The allocation process involved XFL scouts ranking the top eight eligible quarterbacks based on their evaluations of skills, experience, and fit for the league's fast-paced, innovative style of play. Teams then participated in a lottery to determine the order in which they could express preferences from the ranked list, with assignments finalized and announced on October 15, 2019, just ahead of the main two-day draft on October 15–16. This lottery system aimed to balance competitive equity while prioritizing strategic matches between players and coaching staffs.[3][32] The resulting assignments paired teams with quarterbacks selected for their prior achievements, such as NFL starting experience, backup roles, or standout college careers, to anchor offenses capable of immediate impact. For instance, Landry Jones brought six seasons of NFL experience, including 10 starts with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Jordan Ta'amu offered a strong college pedigree as Ole Miss's 2018 starter with over 2,700 passing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in his senior year. These choices reflected the league's emphasis on veterans who could adapt quickly to the XFL's rules, like simplified kicking and no extra-point attempts.[33][32]| Team | Quarterback | Key Experience Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Renegades | Landry Jones | 6 NFL seasons, 10 starts with Steelers; Oklahoma college record for passing yards |
| DC Defenders | Cardale Jones | 3 NFL backup seasons (Bills, Chargers); 2014 National Champion at Ohio State |
| Houston Roughnecks | P.J. Walker | 3 seasons with Colts practice squad; Temple's all-time leading passer (10,571 yards) |
| Los Angeles Wildcats | Luis Perez | 2019 AAF starter (Arizona Hotshots); D-II All-American at Texas A&M-Commerce |
| New York Guardians | Matt McGloin | 7 NFL starts with Raiders; Penn State starter with 3,266 career passing yards |
| Seattle Dragons | Brandon Silvers | 2019 AAF veteran (San Diego Fleet); Troy's 4-year starter (10,667 passing yards) |
| St. Louis BattleHawks | Jordan Ta'amu | 2019 NFL undrafted free agent (Falcons); Ole Miss starter with dual-threat ability |
| Tampa Bay Vipers | Aaron Murray | 4 NFL backup seasons (multiple teams); 2019 AAF (San Diego Fleet); Georgia record for career TDs |
Phase 1: Skill Players
Phase 1 of the 2020 XFL draft consisted of 10 rounds dedicated exclusively to offensive skill positions, enabling each of the eight teams to select 10 players in a snake format to form the foundation of their rushing and passing offenses. These selections encompassed running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, fullbacks, and backup quarterbacks, designed to support the previously assigned starting quarterbacks from Phase 0 and create versatile, high-speed attacking units capable of exploiting defensive weaknesses in the league's fast-paced style.[28][1] Teams placed significant emphasis on players exhibiting exceptional speed and prior professional experience, particularly from the NFL or the recently defunct Alliance of American Football (AAF), to ensure immediate roster contributions and minimize adjustment periods. This trend was apparent in the early rounds, where veterans with proven track records were prioritized over untested college prospects, reflecting the XFL's goal of delivering competitive, entertaining football from the outset. For instance, several top selections featured athletes who had logged NFL snaps or practice squad time, underscoring a league-wide strategy to blend raw athleticism with seasoned playmaking.[35] Among the standout selections, the DC Defenders opened the draft by choosing wide receiver Rashard Davis from James Madison University with the first overall pick in Round 1, valuing his quickness and prior stint on the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad that earned him a Super Bowl LII ring. The Houston Roughnecks followed immediately with quarterback Connor Cook, a former Michigan State standout and 2016 NFL fourth-round pick by the Oakland Raiders, selected second overall in Round 1 as their backup signal-caller behind assigned starter P.J. Walker. In Round 3 (pick 21), the Tampa Bay Vipers added running back De'Veon Smith from the University of Michigan, a versatile rusher with brief NFL appearances for the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs, along with AAF experience with the Orlando Apollos.[2][36][37] The St. Louis BattleHawks selected quarterback Brogan Roback from Eastern Michigan University in Round 2 (pick 11) to bolster depth behind their Tier 1 quarterback Jordan Ta'amu. These choices across teams highlighted how Phase 1 selections aimed to foster explosive offenses, with many draftees leveraging their professional pedigrees to secure key roles in training camp.[38][35]Phase 2: Offensive Line
Phase 2 of the 2020 XFL draft was dedicated to assembling offensive lines, with teams selecting tackles, guards, and centers to establish robust protective units essential for quarterback safety and effective run blocking. This phase spanned 10 rounds, allowing each of the eight teams to draft 10 players apiece, yielding 80 total selections aimed at fortifying the "trenches" of the offense.[2] Selections in this phase emphasized physical size and professional experience, with a significant number of former NFL players chosen to provide immediate reliability and veteran presence on the lines. Many picks brought prior starts at the professional level, aligning with the league's goal of competitive balance through seasoned talent rather than unproven prospects. Notable selections highlighted teams' priorities in building versatile units. The Los Angeles Wildcats opened the phase with the first overall pick, offensive tackle Storm Norton from the University of Toledo, a 6-foot-8, 308-pound lineman who anchored the right side during the season.[39] In Round 3, the New York Guardians added center Parker Collins from Appalachian State, bolstering their interior line with a mobile snapper known for quick protection schemes.[40] The Seattle Dragons, in Round 2, selected guard Venzell Boulware from Miami (FL), a former NFL practice squad member valued for his run-blocking tenacity.[2] Team strategies varied, but several focused on enhancing pass protection to support mobile quarterbacks. The Houston Roughnecks exemplified this approach in Round 4 by drafting center Demetrius Rhaney from Tennessee State University, a veteran with 25 NFL starts across multiple teams, prioritizing his experience in pocket stability over raw athleticism.[41] This selection complemented their skill players by creating a sturdy front that allowed quarterback P.J. Walker to operate effectively in the short passing game.[42]| Round | Team | Player | Position | College/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles Wildcats | Storm Norton | OT | Toledo; First overall pick |
| 2 | Seattle Dragons | Venzell Boulware | OG | Miami (FL); Ex-NFL |
| 3 | New York Guardians | Parker Collins | C | Appalachian State |
| 4 | Houston Roughnecks | Demetrius Rhaney | C | Tennessee State; 25 NFL starts |
Phase 3: Defensive Front Seven
Phase 3 of the 2020 XFL draft was dedicated to selecting players for the defensive front seven, including defensive ends, defensive tackles, and linebackers, across 10 rounds to form the core of each team's pass-rushing and run-stopping units. This phase followed the offensive line selections and used a snake draft format, with the order reversing after each round to ensure balanced opportunities among the eight teams. Each franchise selected 10 players, prioritizing those who could disrupt plays at the line of scrimmage and provide versatility in defensive schemes.[43] The draft order for the opening round was based on the reverse standings from the previous season's simulation, granting the Tampa Bay Vipers the first pick. Early selections reflected a strong focus on experienced edge rushers and interior linemen with proven production. The Vipers led off with Obum Gwacham, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive end from Oregon State, who recorded 28 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks in his senior season.[43][44] In Round 2, the Dallas Renegades chose Hau'oli Kikaha, a defensive end from Washington with 17 NFL sacks across 28 games, adding immediate pass-rush threat. The DC Defenders followed suit by selecting Charles Harris, another defensive end from Missouri with prior NFL experience, in the same round.[43] A clear trend emerged in the emphasis on disruptive defenders, as teams targeted players with high college or professional sack and tackle-for-loss totals to counter the robust offensive lines assembled in Phase 2. For example, the St. Louis BattleHawks opened with Casey Sayles, a defensive tackle from Ohio, in Round 1, while the Houston Roughnecks added Corey Crawford, a 6-foot-5, 270-pound defensive end from Clemson with 25.5 career tackles for loss, in Round 2. These choices highlighted a league-wide priority for athleticism and impact in generating pressure up front.[43][44] Linebacker selections often balanced run defense with coverage capabilities, enhancing the front seven's overall flexibility. The BattleHawks exemplified this by drafting Terence Garvin from West Virginia in Round 2 (pick 15), a versatile linebacker noted for his strong coverage skills demonstrated in the prior AAF season. Similarly, the Defenders picked Scooby Wright III from Arizona in Round 4, who amassed 164 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks in a single college season. Later rounds saw continued investment in depth, such as the Seattle Dragons selecting Jacquies Smith, a defensive end from Missouri with 9.5 NFL sacks, in Round 5.[43][44][45]| Round | Team | Player | Position | College | Notable Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tampa Bay Vipers | Obum Gwacham | DE | Oregon State | 28 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 4 sacks (senior year) |
| 1 | St. Louis BattleHawks | Casey Sayles | DT | Ohio | Strong run defender with NFL practice squad experience |
| 2 | DC Defenders | Charles Harris | DE | Missouri | 9.5 sacks in college; 7.5 NFL sacks |
| 2 | Dallas Renegades | Hau'oli Kikaha | DE | Washington | 17 NFL sacks in 28 games |
| 2 | St. Louis BattleHawks | Terence Garvin | LB | West Virginia | Elite AAF coverage LB; 100+ tackles in college |
| 4 | DC Defenders | Scooby Wright III | LB | Arizona | 164 tackles, 31 TFL, 15 sacks (one college season) |