The NFL offseason is officially underway and like clockwork, there is a new fledgling football league popping up.
The United States Football League (USFL) has been reincarnated into the latest spring football league, seeking to bridge the gap during the NFL’s offseason. The league initially ran from 1983 to 1986. This time around they’ll be looking to do better than past spring football leagues, such as the XFL and Alliance of American Football (AAF).
The newly established league held Day 1 of its draft on Tuesday night. The first round of the draft was solely dedicated to quarterbacks. The top overall pick went to the Michigan Panthers via lottery, and they selected one-time Chiefs QB Shea Patterson.
Patterson was a star at the University of Michigan, so this is a good move for a team that’s likely looking to sell some tickets and merchandise. Patterson signed with Kansas City as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He was signed following April’s draft, but his time with the team was short-lived. He didn’t even make it to training camp with the Chiefs after the team signed veteran Matt Moore to replace him on the offseason roster.
First look at @SheaPatterson_1 in @USFLPanthers threads 🔥 #LetsHunt pic.twitter.com/jNcxu1Efu2
— USFL (@USFL) February 23, 2022
With the second overall pick, the Tampa Bay Bandits selected another former Chiefs QB in Jordan Ta’amu. Ta’amu played collegiately at Ole Miss and was a start for XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks. He also spent the 2020 offseason with the Chiefs, but he actually made it through training camp and spent time on the practice squad in Kansas City. They even had him simulate Ravens QB Lamar Jackson on the scout team.
Ta’amu will look to use his experience with the Chiefs and Battlehawks to excel in the USFL.
WE'VE GOT OUR QB 🤠
With the second pick of the #USFLDraft, the Bandits select @JTaamu10! #BanditBall pic.twitter.com/CsCVuIlNBj
— Tampa Bay Bandits (@USFLBandits) February 23, 2022
The two young quarterbacks have an opportunity to shine in the new league as it kicks off this Spring. The time spent in the Chiefs system in 2020 should benefit them as they move forward in their football-playing careers.
