The 2024 UFL draft, also known as the 2024 UFL college draft, was the first meeting of United Football League (UFL) franchises to select newly eligible players ahead of the 2025 UFL season. It was the first rookie draft since the league formed from the merger of the United States Football League (USFL) and XFL. Previously, the two predecessor leagues held separate rookie drafts in 2023 prior to the merger and then a dispersal draft in 2024 following the merge and contraction from 16 total pre-merger teams to the current 8 teams that competed in the 2024 season. The draft was be held on July 17, 2024 and was announced only six days prior.[1][2] The announcement of the draft also coincided with the beginning a series of player showcase combines held by the league that will continue to be held though October 2024 after the draft but before the start of the 2025 season.[3]
| 2024 UFL draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Date(s) | July 17, 2024 |
| Time | 10:00 a.m. |
| Location | Social media |
| Overview | |
| 80 total selections in 10 rounds | |
| League | United Football League |
| First selection | Jason Bean (QB) Memphis Showboats |
Draft order
editDraft order was based on a team's record and result from the 2024 UFL season. However, under UFL rules meant to prevent against tanking, Memphis received the first round pick by defeating Houston in the last week of the 2024 season.[4][5]
| Selection
Number |
Team | 2024 record | Playoff result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis Showboats | 2–8 | Did not qualify |
| 2 | Houston Roughnecks | 1–9 | Did not qualify |
| 3 | Arlington Renegades | 3–7 | Did not qualify |
| 4 | DC Defenders | 4–6 | Did not qualify |
| 5 | St. Louis Battlehawks | 7–3 | Div championship |
| 6 | Michigan Panthers | 7–3 | Div championship |
| 7 | San Antonio Brahmas | 7–3 | Lost championship |
| 8 | Birmingham Stallions | 9–1 | Won championship |
Player selections
editPlayers eligible for the 2024 UFL draft are those players who were also eligible for the 2024 NFL draft but went undrafted.
References
edit- ^ "2024 UFL College Draft Set for Wednesday, July 17". United Football League. July 11, 2024.
- ^ Garcia, Art (July 11, 2024). "The 2024 UFL College Draft is Wednesday, with the Memphis Showboats owning the first pick". Sports Illustrated FanNation.
- ^ Miller, Anthony (July 11, 2024). "UFL Hosting First Player Showcase on Friday". Sports Illustrated FanNation.
- ^ "Roughnecks vs. Showboats highlights: Memphis gets No. 1 pick in 2025 UFL Draft with 19-12 win". Fox Sports. June 2, 2024.
- ^ Miller, Anthony (May 29, 2024). "UFL Combats Tanking with Winner-Take-All Game for Top Draft Pick". Sports Illustrated FanNation.