While the 2022-2023 NFL season has wrapped up, it’s time for the XFL’s return to spring! After an attempted comeback was cut short by COVID-19 midseason in 2020, the league is back for another full year. With the XFL ready to kick off Week 1 this weekend, let’s look at the XFL Power Rankings as the season starts.
XFL Week 1 Power Rankings
1) D.C. Defenders
The XFL Power Rankings start in the nation’s capital, where the D.C. Defenders look to be one of the best squads on paper heading into Week 1 of the season. Between former Tampa Bay Bandit Jordan Ta’amu and college standout D’Eriq King, the QB room should be in good hands. Additionally, with his physical play style, former Baylor Bear Abram Smith should garner most of the touches out of the backfield.
The Defenders also have one of the most experienced and well-known coordinators on the defensive side of the ball, with Greg Williams drawing up the game plan. The Defenders hope to display their presumed dominance early with the Seattle Sea Dragons coming to town.
2) Arlington Renegades
The Arlington Renegades take the field in Week 1 of the XFL season with one of the more cohesive coaching staffs in the league. Head coach Bob Stoops is surrounded by former colleagues and coaching staff members, giving him an edge thanks to his familiarity with the team.
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As for the players on the field, the Renegades poached former New Orleans Breakers QB and TE tandem Kyle Sloter and Sal Canella, who will bring an established connection to the offense. Despite an All-USFL nod, Sloter struggled last year with the Breakers throwing 12 interceptions to 9 touchdowns. However, Canella was a USFL star, with his season-ending 154 yards on 12 receptions in the USFL championship.
3) Seattle Sea Dragons
Here’s where the XFL Power Rankings start to get interesting. The Seattle Sea Dragons have an intriguing QB/WR pairing with some NFL experience. Let’s start with the QB; all signs point to former JMU and Dallas Cowboys backup Ben DiNucci starting under center for Seattle. One of his weapons is former Cleveland Browns standout WR Josh Gordon who makes his return to football.
The coaching staff for the Sea Dragons is brimming with talent as well. Led by former NFL Coach of the Year Jim Haslett, Seattle should have a solid defensive game plan as well, given Haslett’s area of expertise. The offense won’t be forgotten, though, as he’s joined by June Jones, creator of the Run and Shoot offense.
4) San Antonio Brahmas
Next up is the San Antonio Brahmas. Unlike the other teams mentioned in the XFL Power Rankings, the Brahmas are the first with a rookie head coach. Former Pittsburgh Steelers WR Hines Ward leads San Antonio this season. While inexperience is a cause for concern, Ward filled his coaching staff with proven veteran assistants.
San Antonio looks to have a more significant focus on the run game than the pass with the selections of former NFL RB Kalen Ballage and Tampa Bay Viper Jacques Patrick. It will be interesting to see which of Jack Coan, Jawon Pass, and Reid Sinnett will start under center. It seems that San Antonio needs the running game to excel for this team to succeed.
5) St. Louis Battlehawks
After another three long years, football is back in St. Louis as they welcome the Battlehawks back with open arms. While not the greatest in the NFL, Battlehawks starting QB A.J. McCarron is arguably the most decorated XFL QB after winning two national titles in college with Alabama. Combined with the best set of trenches in the league and the Battlehawks could surprise some people.
There does seem to be a hole in the RB room, but time and time again, quality protection from the offensive line has bailed teams out of not having a stud RB. McCarron also has former fourth-round NFL pick Hakeem Butler to toss the ball. His size could create mismatches for defenses and see him finally start to have the career some thought he would coming out of Iowa State.
6) Houston Roughnecks
The Houston Roughnecks have some work to do to return to their 2020 form. Undefeated with no end in sight, the Roughnecks got out to a 5-0 start under P.J. Walker in 2020. Getting back to the top of the XFL power rankings won’t be as easy in 2023. HC Wade Phillips is now tasked with figuring out who will take over. The battle is between Cole McDonald and Kaleb Eleby.
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McDonald was a former seventh-round pick out of Hawaii, while Eleby went undrafted in 2022 after his final season at Western Michigan. Should McDonald get the nod, he’ll have some familiarity when throwing passes to former Hawaii WR Cedric Byrd. Defensively, Phillips should have this unit firing on all cylinders, given his copious amount of experience as a defensive coordinator in the NFL.
7) Vegas Vipers
The Vegas Vipers are next to last in the preseason XFL power rankings. Like other franchises around the league, the Viper grabbed some USFL talent to be the face of the QB room. Former New Jersey Generals QB Luis Perez and Philadelphia Stars QB Bryan Scott highlight the QB room.
First-time HC Rod Woodson is also relying on high-profile NFL veterans returning to their glory days with Matt Jones, Vic Beasley, and Martavis Bryant on the roster. The lack of experience on the coaching staff is cause for concern, but the roster is oozing with established spring football talent on the offense.
8) Orlando Guardians
No one wants to be last, but unfortunately, the Orlando Guardians are in our XFL Power Rankings. The concerns begin with uncertainty under center, with Deondre Francois, Mitch Kidd, and Quentin Dormady as their options. Francois had an up-and-down career during his time at Florida State.
HC Terrell Buckley will have quite the uphill battle if his QB falls short. Whoever is under center will have some former NFL talent to throw in Eli Rogers and Cody Latimer, but the roster is disappointing. While these are preseason assumptions, it looks like Orlando will be in for a long season.
