The XFL officially announced the cancellation of the rest of the 2020 season, bringing a short end to the league’s recreation thanks to the coronavirus.
While many felt the league’s sustainability was in question, the league’s innovative rules and overall talent level seemed sustainable, and as of now they have every intention of making a return in 2021.
However – they’ll likely have to do it without many of their best players, as the NFL will be free to sign players from the XFL onto their rosters starting Monday, March 23 at 6:00 a.m. PT.
Many of the XFL’s star players will now get a chance to show what they can do at the game’s highest level.
The Seahawks have already showed interest in at least one key player from the XFL ranks, and there are a handful of others who could be of interest to this team as they look to build a 90-man roster ahead of training camp.
Quarterback P.J. Walker
Backup quarterback for the Seahawks may seem like a symbolic job, thanks to Russell Wilson’s iron man status, but it’s still important to find someone who can create and improvise the way Wilson does in the event he is forced to miss some time.
Geno Smith was an ideal complement to Wilson last season, although he did not end up playing a single snap.
Now, with Smith set to hit free agency and likely looking for an opportunity to actually play, the Seahawks will look elsewhere for a backup quarterback.
Enter P.J. Walker – the quarterback for the Houston Roughnecks and the likely XFL MVP.
The 25-year-old has already been scouted by the Seahawks, and it’s no surprise they’d show interest considering his ability as both a runner and a passer.
He struggled in his final game, which was against the Dragons, but he put together a stellar 5-0 record with 1,338 passing yards and a 15-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Walker will likely draw interest from a lot of NFL teams, but coming to Seattle to learn from a star like Wilson could appeal to Walker – and his youth and style could make him an ideal fit in Seattle.
Defensive End Anthony Johnson
Johnson was part of one of the only trades in the XFL’s first season, going from Los Angeles to DC. He finished the season with 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hits and 10 total tackles.
Johnson was one of the highest rated recruits out of high school when he committed to LSU, where he played from 2011-2013.
Johnson bounced around the NFL after going undrafted, recording 16 combined tackles in 22 games played, primarily on special teams.
Still, he was a prolific pass rusher in college and showed at age 27 that he still has some of those skills in the XFL this past season. While he probably wouldn’t come in and immediately contribute, he could be a nice depth option/camp body.
If he impresses, maybe he steals a spot as an injury replacement.
Wide Receiver Cam Phillips
Walker’s top receiver in Houston was former Virginia Tech star wideout Cam Phillips, who led the XFL with 455 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
Phillips went undrafted after the 2017 season, appearing briefly with the Bills as an undrafted free agent before getting cut and eventually catching on in the XFL.
Phillips is six-foot and 200 pounds, and he would represent a nice depth option for the Seahawks to bring in and compete with guys like Malik Turner, David Moore and John Ursua for one of the final spots on the 53-man roster.
Unlike Johnson, Phillips could be retained on the practice squad as well, so he would make sense as a camp body who, if he impresses, the Seahawks could hopefully keep around as added depth.
