D.C. Defenders Post-Super Draft Roster Overview
The D.C. Defenders have locked in 65 players after protecting and drafting players in two separate phases from a pool of former USFL and XFL players.
The D.C. Defenders and the seven other surviving teams from the XFL and USFL in 2023 conducted two phases of a Dispersal Draft. It was a unique process that saw existing teams strengthen their rosters by adding players from now-nonexistent teams in their former league.
To kick off the dispersal draft process, all UFL teams were permitted to protect 42 players on their current roster. Unprotected players, along with unselected players from disbanded teams during phase one's conference-exclusive draft, were then placed in an open league-wide pool for phase two, in what was being dubbed a "Super Draft."
For those who missed it, here is a recap of the players protected and drafted by the Defenders before the start of free agency.
Protected Offensive Players For 2024: RB Abram Smith, RB Cam'Ron Harris, WR Preston Williams, WR Brandon Smith, WR Ty Scott, WR Kelvin Harmon, WR Josh Hammond, WR Jazz Ferguson, TE Alex Ellis, TE Briley Moore-McKinney, C Michael Maietti, G Liam Fornadel, G Lamont Gaillard, G Matt Carrick, T D'Marcus Hayes, T Tommy Champion, T Greg Long, T Kyle Murphy, T Jack Plumb.
Protected Defensive Players For 2024: DE Davin Bellamy, DT Fadol Brown, DE Malik Fisher, DT Dennis Johnson, DE Derick Roberson, DT Niles Scott, DT Joseph Wallace, LB Francis Bernard, EDGE Andre Mintze, LB Reggie Northrup, LB Mohamed Sanogo, CB Michael Joseph, CB Gareon Conley, CB Anthoula Kelly, CB Dejuan Neal, DB Kentrell Brice, DB Isaiah Johnson, S Montae Nicholson, S D.J. Swearinger, S Santos Ramirez.
Protected Specialists For 2024: K Matthew McCrane, LS/TE Trae Barry, P Paxton Brooks.
Dispersal Draft Selections Phase One: QB Deondre Francois (Orlando), OL Jean Delance (Houston), OL George Moore (Seattle), DL Tariqious Tisdale (Seattle), DL Donovan Jeter (Houston), EDGE Trent Harris (Houston), EDGE Tim Ward (Houston), LB Jordan Evans (Seattle), DB Adam Sparks (Vegas), DB Deontay Anderson (Vegas), DB Elijah Blades (Houston).
Super Dispersal Draft Selections Phase Two: QB Jalan McClendon (Vegas), WR Chris Rowland (Philadelphia), DT T.J. Barnes (Arlington), OT Chidi Okeke (San Antonio), OL Adonis Boone (D.C.), RB/KR/WR Pooka Williams Jr. (D.C.), CB Nydair Rouse (D.C.). WR C.J. Johnson (D.C.), DT Boogie Roberts (Pittsburgh), LB Anthony Hines III (D.C.), RB/WR Tabyus Taylor (D.C.), Kicker/Punter Enrique Yenny (D.C.).
The Defenders have until Feb. 14 to fill out their 75-man roster ahead of training camp, which begins on Feb. 24.
UFL 2024 Super Dispersal Draft Recap
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Mike Mitchell is a pro football writer/insider with decades of experience covering and following multiple leagues. He covers the New York Jets for TheJetPress.com at FanSided. He has also written for XFL Board and at Hub Publishing covering the CFL, XFL and USFL.