The 2024 UFL season ended with the Birmingham Stallions capturing a third consecutive spring league championship. Skip Holtz's squad beat Wade Phillips' San Antonio Brahmas, 25-0, to win the inaugural UFL title.
The UFL's eight teams will now move to the next part of the spring football calendar. Numerous players from the spring league will get a chance to prove themselves in the NFL as that league's 32 squads look to round out their 90-man rosters.
NFL teams are always looking to add depth to the fold, so many UFL players will get a chance to prove themselves. And there's a good chance that a handful will make rosters and make an impact, as the Cowboys' Brandon Aubrey and KaVontae Turpin have done in recent years.
Which players are most likely to make that type of impact on their new clubs? Sporting News is breaking down and analyzing the key UFL-to-NFL signings as they are made.
2024 ALL-BREAKOUT TEAM: Offense | Defense
Notable UFL to NFL signings
Jake Bates, Lions
- Position: Kicker
- UFL team: Michigan Panthers
Bates established himself as one of the UFL's stars early in the season. He was practically automatic as a kicker and made several kicks from 60-plus yards, including a 64-yard game-winner that served as his first made kick since his days as a high school kicker.
64 YARDS FOR THE WIN 😱
— United Football League (@TheUFL) March 30, 2024
JAKE BATES WITH A BOOT FOR @USFLPANTHERS pic.twitter.com/nx25x1PEIK
Bates was a soccer player and then a kickoff specialist in college, and his leg strength will come in handy as he looks to prove himself in the NFL. The Lions needed a strong-legged kicker to challenge Michael Badgley, who has made just 5 of 13 career field goal attempts from 50-plus yards, so Bates will fill that role.
The only question is whether he will be accurate and consistent enough after he made 17-of-22 UFL field goals.
Either way, Bates could provide plenty of value on kickoffs, especially with the NFL's new rules emphasizing kicking the ball deep. That should allow him to land a practice squad spot if he doesn't make the Lions' 53-man roster.
Given Detroit's need at kicker, this seems like a great landing spot for Bates. Add in that he kicked at Ford Field while with the Michigan Panthers and there's even more reason to like this as a potential upgrade.
MORE: Why the Lions signed Jake Bates, explained
Jacob Saylors, Giants
- Position: Running back
- UFL team: St. Louis Battlehawks
Saylors led UFL running backs in rushing yards last season (490) and was behind only Stallions quarterback Adrian Martinez in rushing yards league-wide. The 5-10, 199-pound back averaged 4.9 yards per carry and showed a nice combination of vision, burst and strength as a runner.
The Giants lost Saquon Barkley during the 2024 offseason and are set to rely on Devin Singletary, second-yer pro Eric Gray and rookie fifth-rounder Tyrone Tracy Jr. at running back. Saylors will have to jockey for depth chart position with Jashaun Corbin and Dante Miller, but the East Tennessee State product could find a role in a wide-open backfield.
Daewood Davis, Panthers
- Position: Wide receiver
- UFL team: Memphis Showboats
Davis racked up 446 yards and five touchdowns as a top target for the Memphis Showboats. He quickly established himself as a go-to playmaker for Case Cookus (when healthy) and continued to produce even amid Memphis' injury issues at quarterback.
Davis had some injury issues of his own, but there's no denying that the 6-1, 196-pound wide-out is a skilled player. He is a strong player with good hands and solid route-running abilities, so the Panthers grabbing him to compete for a spot on their receiver depth chart was a sensible move.
The Western Kentucky product can try to carve out a backup role for himself in Carolina. The team's backups are unsettled, behind Diontae Johnson, Xavier Legette and Adam Thielen, so Davis may have a chance to win a roster spot.
MORE: Breaking down Trevor Lawrence's contract extension with the Jaguars
Willie Harvey Jr., Cowboys
- Position: Linebacker
- UFL team: St. Louis Battlehawks
The Battlehawks boasted one of the UFL's most productive defenses in 2024. Harvey played a big role in that, leading the league with 76 tackles and positing nine TFL, four sacks, six pass defenses and two forced fumbles as a driving force for St. Louis.
The 5-11, 229-pound linebacker is a bit undersized for an NFL linebacker, but the Cowboys could still find a potential role for him. The team lost Leighton Vander Esch to retirement, so Harvey can at least help the team replenish depth at the position. The Iowa State product could also be a top-tier special teams producer if he makes the final roster, so there's a lot to like about Dallas' signing.
Gareon Conley, Cowboys
- Position: Cornerback
- UFL team: D.C. Defenders
The Cowboys didn't just sign Harvey. They also added Conley to jockey for position within their secondary.
Conley racked up 25 tackles and two interceptions for the Defenders, and was a solid presence as a starting cornerback. The 28-year-old was once a first-round pick (No. 24 overall) by the Raiders in 2017, but he was traded to the Texans in 2019.
Conley is still young and has plenty of NFL playing experience, so the Cowboys pursuing him makes sense. He can provide proven, veteran depth behind Dallas' cornerback trio of DaRon Bland, Trevon Diggs and Jourdan Lewis.
