After a much-awaited return, the XFL is back — and the puzzles get put into place starting November 15 with the 2022 XFL Draft. Originally, the league, then backed by former WWE executive Vince McMahon, was to reboot in 2020 after closing doors back in 2001. But the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to things.
In jumped Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and others, and now we’re officially set with a February 2023 kickoff date. But first, rosters must be formed and the XFL Draft must take place. Here’s everything you need to know.
When Does the 2022 XFL Draft Start?
The XFL Draft in 2022 kicks off November 15 at 2 p.m. ET and will be a three-day event. Each day, different positions will be selected, with quarterbacks taking center stage on Day 1. On Day 2, offensive and defensive specialists (wide receivers, running backs, defensive backs, and linemen) will be selected. All the specialists will follow on Day 3, which is Thursday.
XFL Draft Format and Order
- Day 1: Tuesday, November 15
- Start time: 2 p.m. ET
- Position drafting: QB
- Day 2: Wednesday, November 16
- Start time: 11:30 a.m. ET
- Positions drafting: WR, RB/FB, TE, OL/DL, DB, LB
- Day 3: Thursday, November 17
- Start time: 10:30 a.m. ET
- Positions drafting: K, P, LS, fill rosters
Earlier this fall, the XFL team names were announced. Here’s the order in which each XFL club will draft:
- D.C. Defenders
- St. Louis Battlehawks
- San Antonio Brahmas
- Orlando Guardians
- Vegas Vipers
- Seattle Sea Dragons
- Arlington Renegades
- Houston Roughnecks
XFL rosters will carry a max of 50 players across eight teams. How many rounds there’ll be and whether or not the league will fill out the rosters through this draft is yet to be determined. There’ll be a supplemental draft in January 2023.
XFL Draft Player Pool
There’s a big opportunity for XFL players drafted this year to reach what may be their ultimate goal — catching onto an NFL roster. Taylor Heinicke was originally set to play in the XFL prior to the league suspending operations back in 2020, and he’s since carved out a starting role with the Washington Commanders, most recently beating the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.
Here are the quarterbacks eligible and expected to be drafted to XFL rosters:
- Ben DiNucci
- Eric Dungey
- Kaleb Eleby
- D’Eriq King
- Steven Montez
- Brandon Silvers
- Ryan Willis
- Deondre Francois
- Quinten Dormady
- Jalan McClendon
- Jawon Pass
- Drew Plitt
- Anthony Russo
Of these quarterbacks, DiNucci is the only one to record a start in the NFL, doing so for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020. A few others, such as Montez, King, Dungey, and McClendon, have experience inside NFL walls but have yet to start and play in an NFL regular-season game.