Check out the XFL Bet’s predictions for this upcoming 2023 season!
- Arlington Renegades: Predicted Record: 7-3 (6-0 in Division)
What I Like:
You can’t think of the Renegades without their coaching staff. Bob Stoops, Jonathan Hayes, and Jay Hayes are all recognizable and successful coaches. They will now have the opportunity to take a few first-year coaching staffs to school.
The Renegades lineup is solid from top to bottom. Kyle Sloter, my 6th ranked QB in the upcoming 2023 XFL Season, is paired up with one of the best backfields in the league and an outstanding offensive line supporting him as well. At running back, De’Veon Smith, the #1 rusher in the 2020 XFL season, was just signed in the supplemental draft. The Renegades also have XFL vets Kenneth Farrow (Sea Dragons, 2020) and Keith Ford (BattleHawks, 2020).
Also to mention, Sal Cannella at tight end could have a breakout year. Sloter and Cannella dominated the USFL together in 2022 last year.
Defensively, the secondary will be one to watch. De’Vante Bausby, Josh Hawkins, Joe Powell, and Will Hill III are all Spring Football veterans that have proven their value over the last couple of seasons. Look for the secondary to step it up big-time this season.
Lastly, their linebacker position is filled with some heavy-hitters. Donald Payne led the USFL in tackles last year, and Will Clarke, a 2020 XFL LB, consistently fills gaps everywhere on the field.
What I Dislike:
There isn’t much to dislike about the Arlington Renegades. If I had to pick one position that could be improved it would be their WR core, but even now, they managed to find an XFL veteran with Jordan Smallwod. Will Sloter be able to get these guys the ball is the question.
Overall:
Overall, I have the Renegades as the top team in the 2023 XFL season. The Renegades and the Vipers have a lot of similarities, but I edge out the Renegades due to their easy strength of schedule in the South.
If Bob Stoops can motivate this team to play for him with everything they have, it’s going to be a tough team to beat. There isn’t a position that doesn’t have talent and look for them to utilize a more creative approach with the experience they have.
- Vegas Vipers 7-3 (4-2 in conference)
What I Like:
Offensively the Vipers will be tough to contain. Luis Perez leads the way at QB after going 9-1 in the 2022 USFL season. With targets like Martavius Bryant, a notable NFL wide-out, Jeff Badet, a speedy slot WR from the 2020 XFL season, and Geronimo Allison who brings NFL experience, Perez will have options open.
The Defense is also a strength of the Vipers. Led by long-time all-pro NFL star Vic Beasly at the LB spot, the leadership is set. The Viper’s defensive line is dangerous as well. La’Ron Stokes looks to take advantage of his first real pro opportunity while Destiny Vaeao will transfer his strong USFL experience to the XFL.
What I Dislike:
The Vipers offensive line isn’t as strong as some other teams. They certainly have the size and some NFL experience to change my mind, but on paper there aren’t any real shiners at this position. Luckily, Luis Perez is known for his ability to get the ball out of his hands quickly and into the hands of talented receivers and tight ends.
Their running back situation is one that will be interesting to watch as well. With Matt Jones not making the 51-man roster, Rod Smith and his NFL experience will need to take control back there if they look to establish the running game.
Overall:
Overall, the Vipers will be a fun team to watch this season. Playing in the North could provide some tougher games, but in my eyes, the Vipers have one of the most all-around lineups. A lot is riding on Coach Rod Woodson and his coaching staff to pull the right strings at the right time.
- St. Louis BattleHawks 6-4 (3-3)
What I Like:
The BattleHawks will have a home field advantage. There’s no doubt about that. Proven in 2020, St. Louis will continue to have some of the rowdiest, best crowds that the XFL will see. This played a big factor in 2020 where the BattleHawks were 2-0 winning by an average of 14 points in both home games.
The latest 51-man rosters just recently came out, and AJ McCarron and Nick Tiano are the only QBs that remain. That means that our pick for the starter for the BattleHawks was incorrect. Nonetheless, if your incorrect pick turns out to be AJ McCarron, a 2-time CFB champion, then you’re doing alright. The BattleHawks are in a prime spot to prove McCarron’s value once again.
I also really like the BattleHawks skill position players. Wide receiver Marcell Ateman easily could be the top receiver this year while Steven Mitchell Jr. and Austin Proehl have NFL experience too. Running back Brian Hill has the most NFL experience of any XFL running back with over 1000 yards in his career. Paired with the backup Mateo Durant, a speedy 22 year old rookie, there’s a lot of potential. We can’t forget about their two tight ends, Jordan Thomas and Jayden Smith who both have NFL catches. The experience on offense is certainly visible.
What I Dislike:
There are a couple areas where STL could struggle. Specifically their linebackers. All rostered linebackers seem to have very short stints with NFL teams but not a whole lot past that. Travis Freeny is the exception as he has played in multiple alternate leagues most recently in the USFL.
The same can be said about the secondary of the BattleHawks. Many of the rostered cornerbacks and safeties had short stints with an NFL team or two, but haven’t had a ton of experience elsewhere. Almost everyone is under the age of 26, so they are going to need someone on the defensive side of the ball to step up and be a leader, or we could find this defense lost.
Overall:
Even with questions on the defense, I think the BattleHawks will have success this year and play their way into the playoffs. As I mentioned their home field advantage in the beginning, their last 3 games all take place at home. That could be a huge factor in some must-win games.
This is Anthony Becht’s first head coaching experience, and he has a lot to live up to with these STL fans. To me, he seems like the perfect hire to get the job done. That paired with the skilled talent they have on the offensive side of the ball; they are going to win some games.
- DC Defenders 6-4 (3-3)
What I Like:
Jordan Ta’Amu is a stud. He’s a perfect XFL quarterback with his mobile abilities while also proving his value in 2020 with the BattleHawks. I think his experience and talent will carry the Defenders to winning some games they shouldn’t win.
The Defender’s backfield is also a positive feature of this team. Led by Abram Smith, an undrafted rookie from 2022 that was a standout at Baylor, his first real pro-opportunity is one that he is going to take advantage of. Behind Smith is Ryquell Armstead who has some recent NFL experience. Both backs are going to get their first shot at maintaining a solid backfield. Also, Pooka Williams, a small, shifty RB out of Kansas, made the roster as a WR which will be an interesting story to watch.
On the receiving end, Chad Hensen and Josh Malone are big names in the wide receiving game with both getting drafted in the 4th round of the 2017 draft. Both, however, bounced around many teams and eventually fizzled out of the league. I’m looking for the experience at the top level to pay off here.
What I Dislike:
There is a question around the offensive line being able to protect Ta’Amu. While he is mobile and quite a good runner, if the OL isn’t able to protect their guy there will be serious problems. Only one lineman on their roster currently is over 26, and only a few of them have experience in the NFL or in other alternative leagues. That could be an issue.
Also, there aren’t a ton of big names on the defensive side. Jarrell Owens and Fadol Brown are two known names that will lead the defensive line and Devin Bellamy is a 28 year old veteran at the linebacker position, but there isn’t much else going on here.
Overall:
Overall, I think the Defenders will win some games they shouldn’t win, and lose some games they shouldn’t lose. Ta’Amu at the helm makes me excited to watch their offense, but there isn’t a whole lot more to their team.
Coach Reggie Barlow has tons of leadership experience but at more small schools than anything. He may be the perfect coach for DC, but again, in the North, the games are going to be that much tougher. I think this is a middle of the pack team.
- Houston Roughnecks 6-4 (2-4)
What I Like:
The Roughnecks are one XFL team in which I believe their defense will keep them in games. Their defensive line on paper is one of the best in the XFL with impressive athletes like John Daka who led D2 CFB in sacks and tackles for loss. Another potential leader on the DL was Jaquan Artis, the 2022 Indoor Football League defensive rookie of the year who put up 9.5 sacks and 17.5 TFL. However, Artis didn’t make the final roster, which boosts my confidence about the rest of the DL overall.
You also can’t talk about the Roughnecks without talking about Wade Phillips. As the prominent name in XFL coaching spheres, Phillips’ experience and creativity will be on full display this season. While we believe his experience will pay off, we can look to 2020 where he led the Dallas Renegades to a measly 2-3 record to know that it isn’t always the case.
What I Dislike:
I still don’t know who the starting QB will be. I think Brandon Silvers, 28 years old out of Troy University, is the best QB on their roster, but Cole McDonald may also get his chance. Nonetheless, both don’t provide the same excitement as other XFL quarterbacks like DiNucci and Ta’Amu.
Their backfield and wide receiving core isn’t anything that stands out either. The Roughnecks took Adrian Killins as their first overall pick, but he did not end up on the final roster either. And apart from Killins, none of the offensive playmakers stood out to me. Their wide receivers include Deontay Burnett with some NFL experience. Cedric Bryd out of Hawaii has a large upside as he gets his first real pro opportunity as well.
Overall:
Being out of Houston with Wade Phillips at the helm, I think the Roughnecks are going to be a tough, defensive-minded team. However, I don’t think they have the talent to consistently win games. We also saw a Wade Phillips led team get blown out by a talentless New York Guardians team in 2020, and I think that possibility is still there with this team. Watch for a couple “easy wins” turn to losses when this team doesn’t compete each week.
- Seattle Sea Dragons 5-5 (3-3)
What I Like:
Ben DiNucci. That’s the tweet. He’s my #1 QB for the 2023 season and I think he’s playing with something to prove. Luckily for him, he also has one of the best WRs in the 2023 season in Josh Gordon. It feels like just yesterday we were watching Gordon score 80 yards touchdowns with the Browns. That is the definition of a dynamic duo, especially at the XFL level. What makes this duo even more prolific is the fact that June Jones is the offensive coordinator behind the calls.
The Sea Dragons also have a top offensive line, stealing from the USFL to find all the right guys. Ryan Pope won a championship with the Stallions in the 2022 USFL season, and Jared Thomas mans the center position after an all-USFL season last year.
What I Dislike:
While their offense is likely to be one of the most efficient in the XFL, their defense is, on paper, likely to be one of the most inefficient defenses in the league.
Seattle’s defensive line is a good place to start. Very little of the rostered linemen have experience in either the NFL or other alternative football leagues. Their linebacker position is very similar, and guess what, Seattle’s secondary is very similar as well. Without experience and leadership, my worry is that in a tough North division, the Sea Dragons could struggle to stop other prolific offenses.
Overall:
I have the Sea Dragons as a .500 team both overall and in conference play. In order to win games, the Sea Dragons are going to need to put up a lot of points, but that is how their team is set up currently.
Their coaching staff is led by head coach Jim Haslett with 30+ years of coaching experience. That matched with OC June Jones is sure to be an exciting pairing. This will be a fun team to watch.
- San Antonio Brahmas 4-6 (3-3)
What I Like:
I actually like the head coaching hire the Brahmas made with Hines Ward. I think that Ward will be able to motivate their players that likely grew up watching him score touchdowns in the NFL.
The Brahmas also have one of the most experienced rosters in all of the XFL. Almost every one of their players had a stint with an NFL team at one point, and it almost seems like that was a prerequisite of the owners when drafting this team. One great example is their starting running back, Kalen Ballage, who has some experience with 4 different NFL teams.
What I Dislike:
We still don’t know who the starting QB will become week 1, but our team likes Juwan Pass, the more mobile QB on their 51-man roster. With that said, this would be Pass’ first real pro-opportunity. He has struggled with the number of INTs he throws for each team that he has played on, and I don’t see the XFL would be any different.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Brahmas don’t really have any attention-grabbing players. Specifically, the defensive line and the linebackers positions are going to need some younger guys to step up and lead. If that doesn’t happen, this team could struggle stopping offenses.
Overall:
Overall, I believe the Brahmas are going to struggle. They don’t have the talent to compete against the other teams. I do think that they will punch above their class with some gritty wins against teams like the Roughnecks and maybe the BattleHawks or Sea Dragons, but don’t expect to see this team in the postseason.
- Orlando Guardians 1-9 (1-5)
What I Like:
N/A
What I Dislike:
The Guardians are my bottom team by a good margin. Starting with their QB play, whether Deondre Francois starts or Paxton Lynch starts, both have struggled in the past and are looking for new beginnings. The XFL could be a great spot for this new beginning, however, the skill positions around that starting QB won’t be helping a ton.
At running back Devin Darrington and Jah-Maine Martin are both looking for their first pro opportunity. With the receiving core, Dontez Byrd and Eli Rodgers look to use their 2020 XFL experience to their advantage. Charleston Rambo is one name that could provide some touchdowns as he’s looking for his first real pro experience after his years at Oklahoma.
On the offensive line, the lack of experience is a real hindrance with almost their entire top 5 linemen as undrafted 2022 options. And on the defensive line, Stansly Mapaonga hopes to lead the way but no other names stand out. Lastly, the secondary is depleted with inexperience as well.
I will note, the Guardians made some interesting moves with some of the players like Cody Latimer (WR) and Kelvin Taylor (RB) not making the final roster. I hope this means that they are confident in the younger talent that they have developed. I can only hope.
Overall:
I will gladly eat my words when the Orlando Guardians make the playoffs this season, but until then, I don’t see a real shot at them being able to compete against the better talent. Even the Brahmas, in my eyes, are miles ahead of this Guardians team. Look for this team to struggle all season.
Which teams did we get right, and which teams did we get wrong? Certainly, there were some surprises after the 51-man rosters were revealed. What surprised you the most?
Thanks for reading!