The XFL season is officially over after a brief five-week season due to coronavirus concerns. The league has informed its players that they are free to begin signing with NFL teams if they receive interest.
There are a few players who stood out on the XFL field over the course of the past month. Howie Roseman could end up signing a couple of XFLers if he sees them as fits. Here's a list of players that he should have an interest in bringing to Philadelphia:
QB P.J. Walker
Walker was the presumed MVP of the XFL, as his dominant play resulted in Houston being the only undefeated team in the league. He led the league in completions (119), passing yards (1,338), and touchdowns (15). The Eagles need a backup for Carson Wentz, and Walker's showed that he has the potential to become a potentially reliable safety net.
QB Jordan Ta'amu
Ta'amu was the most accurate QB in the XFL, completing 72% of his passes. He was a duel-threat in the league too, as he was ranked 7th in total rushing yards (217). Since Wentz likes to extend plays and run out of the pocket, maybe Ta'amu would play a similar role like that as the backup in Philadelphia.
RB Deveon Smith
The XFL's leading rusher (365 yards) is just 25 years old. Not having many touches as a NFL-er, he has little wear-and-tear on his body. The Eagles do need to find a pair of running backs to join Miles Sanders and Boston Scott in the running back rotation, so Smith could be an option to compete for a roster spot.
WR Cam Phillips
Phillips was Walker's favorite passing target, connecting for a league-best 31 receptions for 455 yards and nine touchdowns. At just 24-years-old, Phillips still has the best of his playing career in front of him. The 6'0 might be suited more for a slot role in the NFL, but training camp would allow the team to see where he might excel in the offense.
TE Donald Parham
All of Parham's stats (24 receptions, 307 yards, four touchdowns) doubled the next-closest tight end. The Eagles rely heavily on 12-personnel, meaning they like to use two tight ends on the field at once. The team would like to find a reliable pass-catching tight end to backup Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert if one of them were to get hurt so the team could still run their most-successful offense. Parham has a chance to fit in well in Philly.
RB Nick Holley
Holley was one of the best pass-catching running backs in the XFL; he had the most receiving yards, most receiving touchdowns and 3rd-most receptions for RBs. Doug Pederson loves to incorporate his rushers into the passing game. He has used Darren Sproles, Miles Sanders and Boston Scott for screens and wheel routes with high success rates. The Eagles would probably like to add at least one more running back with reliable hands, and Holley certainly fits that role.
LB Asantay Brown
One of two former Eagles on this list, Brown was originally signed by the Eagles as a rookie free agent out of Western Michigan in 2018. The 6'0, 215-pound linebacker was solid in his time in the XFL, registering 28 tackles (T-11th in the league). The Eagles have very little linebacker depth on their roster, so the Eagles will need to fill that with multiple free agent signings and draft prospects. Brown could become a diamond-in-the-rough find if he could come back to Philly and put everything together now that he has found some success on the football field in a professional setting.
DT Cavon Walker
The XFL's sack leader (4.5) wasn't even a pass rusher. As of now, the Eagles have just Fletcher Cox and Malik Jackson as their DTs guaranteed to make the 2020 roster, so a player like Walker could come in and make enough of an impact to make the 53-man roster. The Birds rely heavily on the pass rush the defensive line puts on opposing offenses, meaning Walker has the potential to be a natural fit for Jim Schwartz's scheme.
CB Ajene Harris
The other former Eagle on this list, Harris was a UDFA signing in 2019. In the XFL, Harris recorded 23 tackles (T-2nd most by CBs), and seven passes defended (2nd most by a CB). He was also a force to be reckoned with on special teams, gaining 338 yards on kick returns (4th-most in the league). As of now, the Eagles have four cornerbacks under contract and likely to make the team if they aren't traded: Rasul Douglas, Cre'Von LeBlanc, Sidney Jones, Avonte Maddox. That leaves likely two spots for the team to fill this offseason. One will likely be used on a high-profiled free agent or a top draft prospect, meaning they will need to find one more versatile cornerback who can fill the bottom of the depth chart that plays well on special teams and can fill in on defense as needed -- Harris has a chance to become that type of player.
