UFL, NFL signing tracker: Jake Bates, Gareon Conley, more

Now that the United Football League season has concluded with the Birmingham Stallions winning their third consecutive spring football championship, its players will be looking to make their way into NFL camps. With training camps starting in late July, the next month should be fast and furious with signings.

We’ll chronicle the signings here, which began with the Detroit Lions signing Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates to a two-year contract. We’ll also see the return of Gareon Conley, a first-round pick of the Raiders in 2017 who hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2019.

Here’s a running list of UFL players who have agreed to terms with NFL franchises:

June 20

Signed with: Denver Broncos
UFL team: Birmingham Stallions

The Broncos signed Tillman, who was a key pass-rusher for the UFL champions. Tillman, who played his college ball at Indiana (Pa.), had 27 tackles, six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in the regular season and added two more sacks in Birmingham’s USFL Conference Championship Game win over Michigan.

Signed with: Atlanta Falcons
UFL team: San Antonio Brahmas

Emili comes to the Falcons after helping anchor San Antonio’s UFL-best defense, racking up 21 tackles and three sacks. Emili has previously spent time with the Bills and the Saints, appearing in two games with Buffalo during the 2022 season.

Signed with: Atlanta Falcons
UFL team: St. Louis Battlehawks

Jones-Smith was a first-team UFL performer in 2024, helping boost the Battlehawks to the XFL regular-season conference title. Before playing in St. Louis, Jones-Smith has shuttled in and out of the NFL and spring football since 2018, most notably being active for three games with the Raiders during the 2020 season.

June 18

Gareon Conley, CB

Signed with: Dallas Cowboys
UFL team: D.C. Defenders

Conley is making his return to the NFL, as the former first-round pick signed with the Cowboys. Conley hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2019 and hasn’t been on a roster since 2020, as his career was derailed by a 2019 neck injury. Conley had 25 tackles, two interceptions, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery in seven games for the Defenders this season.

Signed with: New England Patriots
UFL team: D.C. Defenders

Fornadel joins a Patriots team in need of interior linemen after playing in the CFL, XFL and UFL the past two years. Fornadel, who played college ball at James Madison, played for the D.C. Defenders in both the XFL and UFL after spending the 2022 season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL.

Signed with: Carolina Panthers
UFL team: Memphis Showboats

Davis signed with the Panthers after leading Memphis in receiving this past season, hauling in 41 passes for 446 yards and five touchdowns. He originally signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and suffered a neck injury in a preseason game with the Jaguars, which brought about the suspension of the contest.

Signed with: Dallas Cowboys
UFL team: St. Louis Battlehawks

Harvey joins the Cowboys after leading the UFL with 78 tackles and tying for second with nine tackles for loss en route to All-UFL honors. Harvey spent three seasons with the Browns from 2019-21 after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa State, briefly making the active roster in 2019 but mostly spending time on the practice squad.

Signed with: New York Jets
UFL team: San Antonio Brahmas

Levao, who weighs in at nearly 350 pounds, played guard with the Brahmas, helping them win eight games (including playoffs) on their way to the UFL Championship Game. Levao played his college ball at Hawaii and earned all-UFL honors for San Antonio.

June 17

Signed with: New York Giants
UFL team: St. Louis Battlehawks

Saylors signed a contract with the Giants after working out with the team upon the conclusion of the UFL season. Saylors was the UFL’s leading running back this past season, rushing for 461 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Battlehawks to the XFL Conference regular-season title.

Signed with: Minnesota Vikings
UFL team: Arlington Renegades

Redmond only played four games for Arlington this season but made quite an impact in them, compiling 4.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and 18 tackles. Redmond was a ESPN 300 recruit coming out of high school and played at Oklahoma. He was briefly with the Panthers during training camp last season.

June 15

Jake Bates, K

Signed with: Detroit Lions
UFL team: Michigan Panthers

Bates signed a two-year contract with the Lions after earning All-UFL honors for the Panthers in 2024. Bates, who didn’t play football in college, made headlines with his extremely long kicks, highlighted by a 64-yard, walk-off game-winner in Michigan’s season-opening victory over the Battlehawks.