D.C. Defenders Roster: UFL Dispersal Draft Phase One Breakdown

The D.C. Defenders have locked in 53 players in phase one of a unique journey to the 2024 UFL season, which will see the team field 75 players for training camp in late February.

The D.C. Defenders, along with seven other surviving teams from the XFL and USFL, conducted the first phase of a Dispersal Draft on Friday. It was a unique process that saw existing teams strengthen their roster by adding players from now-nonexistent teams in their former league.

Imagine, if you will, the NFL conducting a dispersal draft similar to the UFL. 

It would be the equivalent of the entire AFC being pared down from 16 teams to eight. What would the Baltimore Ravens look like if they were allowed to cherry-pick players from half the AFC's teams?

That's what just transpired in phase one of the newly dubbed XFL and USFL conference dispersal drafts. 

To kick off the dispersal draft process, all UFL teams were permitted to protect 42 players on their current roster. Unprotected players are now in the league pool for phase two, in what is being dubbed a "Super Draft".

To see the entire list of all eight team's protections, as well as their dispersal draft additions, you can click here. 

UFL teams are permitted to select up to 20 players from their perspective conference. The Defenders added 11 XFL players in total from the Vegas Vipers (2), Seattle Sea Dragons (3), Orlando Guardians (1), and the 2023 Houston Roughnecks (5).

D.C. Defenders Phase One Dispersal Draft

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: Kicker Matthew McCrane, Long Snapper/TE Trae Barry, Punter Paxton Brooks

Below is a breakdown of players added to the D.C. roster through the Dispersal Draft.

2024 D.C. Defenders UFL Dispersal Draft Picks

Position Group Analysis (Former Teams):

QB Deondre Francois (Orlando Guardians)

One of the biggest surprises when the UFL officially released the league-wide dispersal draft results was the inclusion of Deondre Francois to D.C.

The enigmatic Francois has had a unique playing journey, which initially saw him take the ACC by storm as a freshman at Florida State. Injuries and off-the-field issues derailed his collegiate career.

However, The 6-1, 215-pound dual-threat signal caller kept his dream of being a star again, playing in the Fan Controlled Football League. It led him to a spot with the Orlando Guardians, where Francois barely made an impact, accumulating 74 yards and two touchdowns in four games played.

From a skill set standpoint, Francois seems like a fit in the Defenders' RPO-based offensive scheme. But it would be an absolute shock if he is a starting option for D.C. this season. He seems more suited for a D'Eriq King-like role as a backup.

The Defenders drafting a quarterback was definitely not surprising, considering the uncertain nature of the position for them. The team didn't protect Tennessee State QB Geremy Hickbottom, who goes into the next phase of the league's dispersal pool.

XFL 2023 MVP Jordan Ta'amu, who played the best ball of his young career under Defenders offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss, is a free agent and hasn't committed to D.C. or the new UFL as of press time.

Ta'amu's backup in 2023, D'Eriq King, the newly anointed SMU quarterbacks coach, didn't sign a letter of intent with the XFL in 2023 and, as a result, was not draft-eligible.

Perhaps one or both King and Ta'amu could return. In King's case, if there is a desire to return, it could require a unique commitment by the UFL, D.C. and SMU to accommodate King's itch to give his playing career one more shot.

Above all else at quarterback, the Defenders are waiting and hoping that Ta'amu finds his way back. But, for now, they have to proceed as if life will go on without him.

Offensive Linemen: George Moore (Sea Dragons), Jean Dalance (Roughnecks)

George Moore, 26, appeared in 11 of 12 games (5 starts) during Arlington's run to the XFL championship last season, seeing action primarily at left tackle. The 6-6, 312-pound Moore was selected by the Renegades in the fourth round of the XFL Supplemental Draft in 2023 following his college tenure at Oregon. In the offseason, as part of a swap during the XFL rookie draft, Arlington traded Moore to Seattle for LB Tuzar Skipper.

Moore gives D.C. valuable depth as a swing tackle who could see time on the blind side for whoever the Defenders starting QB is.

Jean Dalance (6-4, 303) has an impressive wingspan of 86 inches and is a fascinating developmental prospect with upside. Dalance, 25, began his collegiate career at Texas before making his way to Florida. He has three years of starting experience in college at right tackle and could play on the interior at guard.

Dalance, an undrafted free agent in 2022, has spent time with the Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals and, most recently, Green Bay Packers. He's been a practice squad player in the NFL, but needs playing time to develop. He could find it in D.C.

The Defenders significantly upgraded their pass rush and defensive front in the dispersal draft with the acquisitions of league standouts Trent Harris, Tim Ward, Tariqious Tisdale and Donovan Jeter.

D.C. defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is a happy man.

The Defenders under Williams play a hybrid defense using a lot of odd and even fronts with pass rushers rushing from all angles. Ward and Harris are perfect fits for D.C.'s system. The Roughnecks duo combined for 14.5 sacks last season, but only played six games together in 2023.

Tariqious Tisdale (6-4, 285) is also another player who can play multiple roles upfront, including on the edge in an even or odd front or swing inside to DT. Tisdale had two sacks last year for the Dragons.

D.C. went to the Roughnecks well again, drafting Donovan Jeter, who had signed a letter of intent to play for Houston in December. Jeter has spent time with four different NFL teams since entering the pros. The 6-4, 325-pound nose tackle out of Michigan has been on the rosters of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders, New York Giants and Chicago Bears since 2022.

Jeter has a chance to be one of the better run-stopping players in the UFL and is a great fit for D.C.'s defense on the nose.

Linebacker: Jordan Evans (Sea Dragons)

Former Oklahoma star and Cincinnati Bengals draft pick Jordan Evans is one of the most experienced players in the UFL, having started multiple games of a five-year career in the NFL. He just hasn't been able to fight off the injury bug of late. Even last season in the XFL as a team captain with the Seattle Sea Dragons, where he reunited with coach Jim Haslett.

The Defenders are hoping that Evans brings great leadership and smarts to their linebacking room off and, more importantly, on the field. He has the versatility to play on the inside or outside, being another versatile piece for D.C. Evans and Francis Bernard could form one of the better linebacker tandems in the XFL Conference.

Defensive Backs: CB Adam Sparks (Vipers), S Deontay Anderson (Vipers), CB Elijah Blades (Roughnecks)

The Defenders are adding two of the best defensive backs from the XFL in 2023, in Vegas Vipers cornerback Adam Sparks and hard-hitting safety Deontay Anderson.

In Louisiana-Monroe's Adam Sparks, D.C. is getting a great press corner who plays much bigger than his listed size of 5-10, 169. Sparks can play outside or inside on the nickel. In seven games with Vegas last year, he allowed zero touchdowns, recording 31 tackles and one interception.

Sparks' 2023 teammate in Vegas, Deontay Anderson, is an absolute beast in the box and over the middle of the field. The former University of Houston standout is one of the best hybrid defenders in the league, who tackles like a linebacker and covers like a deep safety.

Last season, Deontay Anderson was an All-XFL player, posting 52 tackles and received an 87.3 defensive grade against the run by Pro Football Focus. He was 80.2 overall. The sure-tackling, stop-you-in-your-tracks-where-you-stand DB didn't miss a single tackle in his last six games. “D'Train” earned his nickname.

D.C. has some great experience in safety with the likes of Montae Nicholson, D.J. Swearinger and Santos Ramirez. But the addition of Anderson gives the Defenders a defender who can be a multi-tasking force all over the field.

Rookie CB Elijah Blades has a unique backstory. The all-star JUCO player at Arizona Western Community College is well-traveled. He spent time in college with Florida, Texas A&M and the University of Buffalo.

Blades is an ideal fit in Williams' secondary. He is 6-2 with 4.4 speed. He profiles as an outside pressman cornerback who can play on an island.

The Roughnecks got Blades to sign a letter of intent, but the Defenders are going to get the benefit of one of their league mate's hard work.

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You can find Mike Mitchell on X @ByMikeMitchell.

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