The NFL is making a big mistake by not capitalizing on UFL talent in one specific area

The NFL is being super weird about signing UFL players right now. It's weird that no team has gone out and signed any of the league's award winners to contracts yet. I hate to keep using the word, but it's weird that Hakeem Butler and Breeland Speaks aren't on a roster going into camp next week.

Believe it or not, that's not the area where we're really focusing in on. It's kick returner. The NFL changed their kickoff format this offseason and they will now be using the format that the UFL, USFL and XFL have been using for years now.

It seems like the smart thing to do might be to go out and get players that have played in that format and best know how to get the most of it, yet the NFL has largely not done that and it feels like a big mistake.

DC Defenders' receiver Chris Rowland racked up 1,218 yards and a touchdown on kick returns this past season and he has not been signed by an NFL team. 1,218 yards is no joke. The most anyone got in the NFL last year was 782. Obviously this format is designed to get more out of returns, but you still have to have the talent to be able to get those yards and you have to have the field vision for it too.

Rowland isn't the only guy, Arlington Roughnecks' receiver Juwan Manigo hasn't signed anywhere after putting up 962 return yards last season. There's at least been some conversations with him and the Titans and Giants , but no deal has been made yet.

Memphis Showboats' Titus Swen and St. Louis Battlehawks' Darrius Shepherd are two others that put up some big numbers in 2024 and should be on NFL rosters.

Perhaps teams are looking to see what they can do with their normal kick returners in place. Chances are they will probably do just fine. Still, I think whatever team that decides to put a UFL guy out there is going to be the most successful at it. When they are, it could widen the pipeline from the UFL to the NFL and give some players another shot at making it in the league.

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