The XFL is officially back after their first week of competition wrapped up this past weekend. It saw eight teams compete over four different games on Saturday and Sunday. The start of this season begins a week after the NFL just crowned a champion.
It seems almost inevitable that these leagues start off hot and quickly decline in viewership after that. Either way, this opportunity gives these players and NFL scouts the ability to keep tabs on potential talent to add to their rosters come training camp. The Steelers need some depth spots filled and some of these players could be interesting options.
Jeff Badet stood out among the Vegas Vipers which might have caught the attention of the Steelers
The first game to kick off the re-emergence of the XFL saw the Vegas Vipers take on the Arlington Renegades. This matchup was a nice way to kick off this league as it saw the game come down to the wire. Players were able to show what they had, and former Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant had a few catches as well. It was an exciting game that captivated the audience’s attention for the entire 60 minutes of the game.
Jeff Badet stood out from the rest of the receivers that participated in this contest. He was able to put up an incredible stat sheet of 81 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns off six catches. Badet was an explosive receiver that could get NFL attention if he keeps up that type of production throughout the remaining nine weeks of competition. It was a good start for this receiver in a Vegas offense that is not afraid to throw the ball downfield.
Max Borghi might be an option to join the Steelers as a third running back option
There are plenty of Houston Roughnecks that made this list of standout performers that might have caught the attention of the Steelers. Max Borghi is no different as this running back was effective all day running the ball. He only gained 42 yards on the ground, but he did add a rushing touchdown to his XFL resume. Houston seems to have a nicely rounded group and that should help their effective game's success continue in the distant future.
Those 42 yards do not describe the entire performance by Borghi in this game. He only got eight carries during this matchup as the Roughnecks seemed to attack the opponent with a committee approach. That means that this back was able to average for over five yards per carry in an impressive outing for the player. He had a couple of impressive seasons that eclipsed 1,000 scrimmage yards at Washington State before entering the NFL Draft.
Not a huge story behind Borghi as he went undrafted during the 2022 NFL Draft before jumping around a couple of practice squads last year, including with the Steelers. He is a shifty back that runs with more strength than one would expect. Borghi was with the organization late last year and could come back to challenge for the third running back spot during the pre-season.
Perhaps the best overall performance by a receiver this past weekend was Deontay Burnett
Many big named receivers fill the rosters of the XFL with the likes of Bryant and Josh Gordon on their respective clubs. One player that had an outstanding performance was Deontay Burnett. He might have been one of the best offensive players across the entire league in week one. A wide receiver might not seem to be the biggest need for Pittsburgh, but it should not be ignored either.
Perhaps being on one of the most pass-efficient clubs to start off the season in the XFL is not the worst thing to happen to a receiver. Burnett certainly benefitted from the performance of his quarterback Brandon Silvers on Saturday night. The two seemed to have a strong connection as they were able to make some big plays throughout the game.
Burnett totaled 90 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in Houston's victory over the Orlando Guardians. Up to this point, this receiver had been bouncing around the NFL ever since being an undrafted free agent coming out of the 2018 NFL Draft. Burnett has been out of the NFL for around three years, but that trend seems like it could change if he keeps up with the type of performance he displayed on Saturday.
Houston Roughnecks had two huge performances that stood out from their stout defensive game
Trent Harris might have had the most impactful performance by any player in the XFL this past weekend. He was one of many Houston Roughneck defenders that had outstanding outcomes. Harris stood out among his peers and showed that he should be in the NFL challenging for a roster spot at the bare minimum.
This edge rusher was able to notch four sacks on Saturday, which accounted for more than half the defenses sack number. He was playing out of his mind and should be able to continue that dominant streak moving forward. With some players, you can tell that their talent is high above those around them, and Harris is just better than the tackles that he is going up against. He is an NFL talent that has been neglected by the league, which landed him in the XFL to prove his worth.
Tim Ward was another Houston defender that had a great performance against Orlando. He accounted for two sacks during this contest, and it could have been more if Harris did not beat him to the quarterback on a few occasions. Ward is another interesting outside linebacker that will get his name out there with continued performances like this past weekend. The Steelers should be keeping a close eye on these two for their depth positions across the defensive front of their roster in 2023.