7 UFL standouts for Bears to consider
7 UFL standouts for Bears to consider
The 2024 UFL Championship will be decided on Sunday, June 16 when the Birmingham Stallions take on the San Antonio Brahmas. For those itching to get their football fix, it’s a great chance to watch some hard-fought action.
This is the first season of the UFL, with the merging of the USFL and the XFL resulting in this mega-minor league. As someone who has been to a UFL game (go Battlehawks), it’s a fun atmosphere with exciting football, and the fanbases of all 8 teams have really taken to their squads.
With the league’s season approaching its end, all players will be able to sign NFL contracts after the championship. Kicker Jake Bates of the Michigan Panthers is already expected to sign with the Lions after the UFL year ends. It’s only the first full year of the UFL, so it remains to be seen if any standouts make an impact in the NFL right away. However, strong outings in the spring could be a great opportunity for players to fight for roster spots in the NFL.
There’s no such thing as too much depth, especially in the preseason. With that in mind, here are a few top performers from the UFL that the Bears might be smart to consider adding for competition on the back end of the roster.
Hakeem Butler, WR, St. Louis Battlehawks
An All-UFL receiver this year, Butler dominated to the point where he led the league in receiving yards and tied for second in receiving touchdowns. Many will remember him as a standout at Iowa State, where he most notably had 60 catches for 1,318 yards and 9 touchdowns as a redshirt junior in 2018.
Butler was a fourth-round pick by the Cardinals in 2019, and injuries saw him fall out of favor quickly. He has since resurrected his career by dominating with the Battlehawks in each of the last two seasons. Separation as a route runner was an issue for him coming out, but he’s a 6-foot-5, 227-pound receiver with tremendous ball skills who runs a 4.48 40-yard dash. The Bears currently don’t have a firm backup ‘X’ behind Rome Odunze, and Butler could be a big-bodied receiver worth considering to fight for that spot.
Sal Cannella, TE, Arlington Renegades
Ryan Poles has shown a penchant towards signing Chicagoland talent, and Cannella actually went to St. Viator in Arlington Heights at the same time as current Bears tight end Cole Kmet.
That’s not to say Cannella belongs on the radar just for that, though. The former Auburn Tiger led UFL tight ends in all categories with 53 receptions for 496 yards and 6 touchdowns. He was a consistent checkdown target for the Renegades in a high-octane passing attack featuring personal favorite quarterback Luis Perez. The Bears did just bring back Marcedes Lewis, but Cannella could be a name worth considering for the practice squad.
Kohl Levao, OG, San Antonio Brahmas
A source told me Levao is getting serious NFL looks once the UFL season comes to an end, and judging by his performance this year, that’s not at all shocking.
Levao was a fixture at left guard for the Brahmas, playing a major role in their run to the UFL Championship this Sunday. He was named an All-UFL lineman for his efforts, and at 6-foot-5 and 324 pounds, he more than fits the size criteria to play in the NFL. He’s a physical blocker with center-guard versatility, and for that alone, he might be worth considering for the Bears to bring in.
Breeland Speaks, EDGE, Michigan Panthers
Speaks was a second-round pick by the Chiefs back in 2018, and his NFL career didn’t pan out as well as Kansas City had hoped. After bouncing around the league on practice squads for a few years, he’s found new life with the Panthers. As the UFL Defensive Player of the Year, he led the league in both sacks and tackles for a loss at 9.5 and 13, respectively.
With his inside-outside versatility, his physical traits and his high level of production in the UFL, Speaks will no doubt garner attention from NFL teams. As the Bears look to figure out their defensive end position, he could be worth bringing in for the preseason to compete for a spot.
Kenny Willekes, EDGE, Michigan Panthers
Speaks isn’t the only standout the Panthers had off the edge this year. Willekes had 4.0 sacks in 9 games and contributed 20 tackles, 5.0 tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery in that time.
A standout pass-rusher at Michigan State, Willekes was a seventh-round pick by the Vikings in 2020. I remember being incredibly impressed with his red-hot motor and refined use of his hands from his time with the Spartans, and though he isn’t the most dynamic athlete out there, he’s still only 26 years old and had a good year in the UFL. He might be worth considering as a camp add if you’re a team like the Bears.
DeMarquis Gates, LB, Birmingham Stallions
If Gates seems like a familiar name, it’s because he spent most of the 2022 and 2023 seasons on the Bears’ practice squad. He played in 7 games in that time, notching two tackles and a fumble recovery in that time.
This year for the Stallions, Gates had 37 tackles and 2.0 sacks. He stood out for the Bears in past preseasons, and after another strong outing in Birmingham (he played for the Stallions in 2022 when they were in the USFL), the Bears could look to bring him back as competition for a roster spot or for a role on the practice squad.
Kai Nacua, S, Michigan Panthers
Nacua tied for the league lead in interceptions with 3 this year, making it onto the All-UFL team in the process. He spent 6 seasons in the NFL, and after looking like one of the UFL’s top ball-hawking safeties, he could end up back in the big leagues sooner rather than later.
The Bears added Jonathan Owens as safety depth this year, in addition to replacing Eddie Jackson with Kevin Byard. However, they’ve been hurt by not having depth at the position in the past, so a player like Nacua could be worth looking into as a player to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster. Plus, keeping Nacua on the Bears will totally do wonders for when his younger brother Puka hits free agency in 2027!