The XFL proved in 2020 that the league was ready for action. Not only was it a smashing success with the fans, but the talent on the field had many NFL scouts doing a double-take.
Now the XFL has released a statement indicating that players who get their chance to make a jump from the XFL to the NFL are more than welcome to do so.
Players can sign as soon as March 23
The XFL announced on Friday that players are free to sign with an NFL or CFL team that expresses interest in them if they so desire.
If a team reaches out to a player, they can start discussing a possible contract and preparations for a tryout beginning on Monday, March 23.
ESPN’s Kevin Siefert tweeted out the news just after 4 p.m. ET on Friday.
NFL teams may begin signing XFL players on Monday at 9 a.m. ET.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) March 20, 2020
PJ Walker headed back to the NFL?
While scouts will be looking at many XFL players in the coming weeks, PJ Walker is most likely at the top of the list if a team is in need of a quarterback.
Walker has already had a small taste of the NFL life. It appears that after showing off his talents in the XFL, that several NFL teams are interested in giving him a tryout this spring.
In terms of quarterbacks in the XFL, there is no one better than Houston’s PJ Walker.
In the five games Walker appeared in for the Houston Roughnecks before the XFL was forced to suspend the season due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic, he was incredible.
Walker led the league in yards passing and touchdowns and was clearly one of the top players on the field in each game Houston played in.
Now, it seems that all of the hard work for Walker may be about to pay off.
According to Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston, three teams have eyes on the Roughnecks’ quarterback.
NFL source: The @Seahawks, @AZCardinals and @Broncos have contacted the Houston Roughnecks (@XFLRoughnecks) inquiring about quarterback PJ Walker (@pjwalker_5).
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 20, 2020
Berman tweeted out late Thursday evening that the Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, and Seattle Seahawks have all contacted the Houston Roughnecks to inquire about PJ Walker.
Other players that surely will get a look include quarterbacks Jordan Ta’amu and Josh Johnson, and running backs DeVeon Smith, Matt Jones, and Cameron Artis-Payne.
Cam Phillips and Dan Williams are two wide receiver names that also are getting a lot of hype early on.
Unlike in 2001, the NFL-XFL connection has more cohesiveness now. That may be just another reason that the XFL should do better in the years to come.