I’m going to preface this article with an admission.
Last year I watched both the USFL and XFL spring football leagues religiously.
This year, not so much. Primarily because when the two leagues merged they axed the two teams I rooted for.
With the departure of the New Orleans Breakers (USFL) and the Seattle Sea Dragons (XFL) my interest in the new league packed up its bags and went with them.
So, while I couldn’t tell you how well the new UFL league is doing – nor comment on the product on the field – there is one aspect of the league that cannot be ignored.
The Cowboys have reached into the spring football well and plucked out a couple of nice diamonds.
Diamonds In The Rough
The Cowboys have signed two players that have made huge contributions already.
KaVontae Turpin is rounding out into an excellent kick returner. The new kickoff rules should only increase his value.
And all Brandon Aubrey did last year was set NFL records as a place kicker.
Not only did he stabilize the kicking game, he made us quickly forget the painful end of Brett Maher’s second tour of duty in Dallas.
Aubrey probably won’t even have to worry about serious competition for his job this fall. Unless he catches a case of Maher’s shanks.
But given his body of work in the USFL, and in his rookie NFL season, that seems unlikely.
The Cowboys also signed former Michigan Panthers – and Michigan State alum – safety Josh Butler last year.
Butler did not see action in 2023. But he should have a chance to compete for a spot in camp this summer.
He might be a solid fit in Mike Zimmer’s defensive scheme at that.
Possible Targets
The last thing Dallas needs to do is add another quarterback to the mix.
So both A.J. McCarron – who leads the UFL in touchdown passes – and Luis Perez – who has the passing yards lead – are not on the radar.
Not to mention that Perez is not an NFL-caliber quarterback. I don’t care how many YouTube videos and video games he played.
Perez is already the closest he will ever get to playing football inside AT&T Stadium as he plays a few blocks down the road for the Arlington Renegades.
Nor are the Cowboys looking to add to an already crowded running back room.
Not that there is much to look over at that position in the UFL. That league’s leading rusher is only averaging 58 yards a game.
The one offensive player Dallas could look at would be Hakeem Butler, a wide receiver for the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Butler leads the league with 478 yards and five touchdowns on 31 catches after the first six games.
Defensive Help
There are a couple of linebackers the Cowboys might also look to add for camp. San Antonio’s Jordan Williams and Arlington’s Donald Payne.
They rank second and third respectively in the UFL in tackles.
As for defensive tackles to help stop the run? The cupboard seems a little bare.
The UFL is not exactly a running league and defensive linemen are more focused on stopping the pass in this league.
But there is one former Cowboys player in the UFL who could be worth another look.
Austin Faoliu plays for the Battlehawks now. He was an undrafted rookie defensive tackle in 2021 and collected two tackles in a win over Carolina that year.
After playing in that one lone game, Faoliu was out of the NFL in 2022 but played for the Seahawks last year.
He has six tackles for St. Louis this spring.
One Player Is A Hard Pass
Taco Charlton was the first round pick of the Cowboys out of Michigan in 2017. We all know how that ended.
Charlton is playing for the Birmingham Stallions this spring in a bid to restart his career.
So far he has eight tackles and four sacks.
Thankfully, Dallas is set at defensive end.
But even if they weren’t, would the Cowboys want to bring back what remains one of their biggest draft busts of this century? Can I get a “heck no” from the congregation?
Still the fact remains that the Cowboys have managed to find one solid player from spring football in each of the last two seasons.
Can they keep their streak alive this year? We’ll see.
Lord knows they will probably need the help.
