A 2023 XFL rookie draft was just announced by the league across their social media platforms. The XFL season is officially over, as the Arlington Renegades were crowned champions. It was already confirmed that there will be another season of this version of the XFL, which is big news for spring football. Here is a look at what the 2023 XFL rookie draft will entail.
2023 XFL Rookie Draft
Arlington Renegades – Rebecca Slezak/The Dallas Morning News
The 2023 XFL Rookie Draft will take place Friday, June 16th. It will also be held virtually. There are just two requirements that potentially picked players must meet in order to be eligible to be drafted. The first is that players must have been eligible for the 2023 NFL draft. The second is that they are not allowed to be under contract with an NFL team. Holding this draft is a big symbol for the whole idea of the XFL.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has held the idea of just being passed up by the NFL being a big reason he wanted to own the XFL. There are many strong football players that have gone undrafted. Kurt Warner, Wes Walker, Antonio Gates, and more are all famous NFL players who were not drafted. There are only so many players that are picked that many go unnoticed. While there is a period that undrafted free agents do get signed, those who did not still have a chance to play professional football next year.
During the last XFL offseason, the teams held 51 players. The league announced that they would expand the number of players on the roster to 90. This opens up many more opportunities for young players. The league will also allow an “NFL Out.” This out will last until Tuesday, December 26th, 2023. That will be after the conclusion of Week 16 of the NFL. This still gives players a chance to achieve their NFL goals, even if they are a part of the XFL rookie draft.
DC Defenders vs. Seattle Sea Dragons 2023 – Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Those who are already under contract with the XFL will remain with the team they ended the season with. Something to note is the number of players from the XFL who have signed NFL contracts. While it is not a lot, the teams will need to replace these players. Quarterback Ben Dinucci from the Seattle Sea Dragons has signed a contract with the Denver Broncos. Now, the Sea Dragons will need to replace him and can during the XFL rookie draft.
The league has also stated that every team has been evaluating the eligible players for the draft. It may seem soon after the league ended, but the personnel watched draft prospects throughout the season. Expect every team to be well-prepared before the draft takes place in June.
Seattle Dragons QB Ben Denucci – Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
XFL Rookie Draft Availability
The NFL has kept a list of undrafted free agents signed and still available. Some of the players to watch for in the XFL rookie draft are quarterbacks Charlie Brewer from Liberty and Hunter Johnson from Clemson. The running back position almost always does well with undrafted free agents as well. There are always players that go unnoticed in the draft, and this gives them an opportunity to play.
Many players still get signed to the NFL but never see the light of day on the field. Players can instead spend a year in the XFL demonstrating the kind of player they are. This will also keep them in game-ready shape until a true opportunity in the NFL presents itself. Young players can also look at the number of 2023 XFL players that were invited to mini-camps and see the value of playing in the XFL as opposed to not getting a shot in the NFL in year one.
The 2023 XFL Rookie Draft will take place June 16th. XFL fans should be excited that the league is able to take this big step, and college fans can watch for underrated players to be picked.
