2023 XFL rookie draft
{{Short description|2023 American football player draft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox sports draft
|name=2023 XFL rookie draft
|logo=
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|date=June 16, 2023
|time=11:00 AM ET
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|league=XFL
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|prev=2023
|next=2024
|rounds=35
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The 2023 XFL rookie draft was the player selection process to fill the rosters of the eight teams for the 2024 XFL season, and the only rookie draft in the rebooted version of the XFL's history.
The draft was held on June 16, 2023,{{Cite web |title=XFL to Host 2023 Rookie Draft on Friday, June 16|url=https://www.xfl.com/xfl-latest-news/xfl-to-host-2023-rookie-draft-on-friday-june-16-2023|website=XFL |date=June 14, 2023 |language=en-US}} with results released through the XFL's social media channels later that evening, with 80 players being selected.
Eligibility
The XFL 2023 "rookie" draft pool consisted only player who were eligible to have been drafted in the 2023 NFL draft and who are not under contract by a professional football team (players under contract with Indoor Football League are eligible to be drafted).
Drafted rookies will be placed on XFL rosters with players who finished the 2023 season on active and reserve lists and teams will hold exclusive rights with the players they select in the draft.
Selection order
The draft was to consist up to 10 rounds. XFL team rosters will be expanded from 51 to 90 players to allow for the increased number of players.
The selection order was follows (the selection order for subsequent rounds followed the order of the first round):
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
!Selection !Team !2023 record !Playoff result | |
| style="text-align:center" |1
|1-9 |Did not qualify | |
| style="border-top:3px solid darkgrey"
| style="text-align:center" |2 |2-8 |Did not qualify | |
| style="border-top:3px solid darkgrey"
| style="text-align:center" |3 |3-7 |Did not qualify | |
| style="border-top:3px solid darkgrey"
| style="text-align:center" |4 |7-3 |Did not qualify | |
| style="border-top:3px solid darkgrey; background:#eaffe6;"
| style="text-align:center" |5 | Seattle Sea Dragons
|7-3 |Div Championship |
| style="background:#eaffe6;"
| style="text-align:center" |6 |7-3 |Div Championship | |
| style="border-top:3px solid darkgrey; background:#e6fff7;"
| style="text-align:center" |7 |9-1 |Lost Championship | |
| style="border-top:3px solid darkgrey; background:#e6eeff;"
| style="text-align:center" |8 |4-6 |Won Championship |
Before the draft, the Renegades and Sea Dragons complete a trade, with Arlington receiving linebacker Tuzar Skipper and the 46th overall pick and Seattle receives offensive lineman George Moore and the 40th overall pick.{{Cite web|title=XFL Trade: Renegades and Sea Dragons Complete Trade in Advance of 2023 XFL Rookie Draft|url=https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/xfl-trade-renegades-and-sea-dragons-complete-trade-in-advance-of-2023-xfl-rookie-draft/|website=xflnewshub.com|date=16 June 2023 |language=en-US}}
Draft results
{{small|Reference{{Cite web|title=St. Louis Battlehawks 2023 XFL Rookie Draft Recap|url=https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/st-louis-battlehawks-2023-xfl-rookie-draft-recap/|website=xflnewshub.com|date=18 June 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=St. Louis Battlehawks Reloading With the 2023 XFL Rookie Draft|url=https://shadysportsnetwork.com/2023/06/16/st-louis-battlehawks-reloading-with-the-2023-xfl-rookie-draft/|website=Shady Sports Network|date=16 June 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Seattle Sea Dragons 2023 XFL Rookie Draft Recap|url=https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/seattle-sea-dragons-2023-xfl-rookie-draft-recap/|website=xflnewshub.com|date=18 June 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Seattle Sea Dragons Pass on Selecting a Quarterback, Load Up on Weapons|url=https://shadysportsnetwork.com/2023/06/18/seattle-sea-dragons-pass-on-selecting-a-quarterback-load-up-on-weapons/|website=Shady Sports Network|date=18 June 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=XFL 2023 Draft: Orlando Guardians' Rookie Draft Recap – Breakdown of Positions and Talent Added|url=https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/xfl-2023-draft-orlando-guardians-rookie-draft-recap-breakdown-of-positions-and-talent-added/|website=xflnewshub.com|date=18 June 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Orlando Guardians' Strategy Revealed: Terrell Buckley on XFL 2023 Draft Picks|url=https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/orlando-guardians-strategy-revealed-terrell-buckley-on-xfl-2023-draft-picks/|website=xflnewshub.com|language=en-US|author=Perry, Mark|date=June 18, 2023}}{{Cite web|title=2023 XFL draft: Orlando Guardians look to improve on league's worst record|url=https://shadysportsnetwork.com/2023/06/17/2023-xfl-draft-orlando-guardians-look-to-improve-on-leagues-worst-record/|website=Shady Sports Network|date=17 June 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=XFL 2024: Houston Roughnecks Rookie Draft Recap, Player Selections|url=https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/xfl-2024-houston-roughnecks-rookie-draft-recap-player-selections/|website=xflnewshub.com|date=17 June 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Houston Roughnecks Draft Recap|url=https://shadysportsnetwork.com/2023/06/22/houston-roughnecks-draft-breakdown/|website=Shady Sports Network|date=22 June 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Arlington Renegades 2023 XFL Rookie Draft Recap|url=https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/arlington-renegades-2023-xfl-rookie-draft-recap/|website=xflnewshub.com|date=16 June 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=XFL: Arlington Renegades 2023 Rookie Draft|url=https://shadysportsnetwork.com/2023/06/25/xfl-arlington-renegades-2023-rookie-draft/ |website=Shady Sports Network|date=25 June 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=XFL 2023 Draft: D.C. Defenders' Rookie Draft Recap – Breakdown of Positions and Talent Added|url=https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/xfl-2023-draft-d-c-defenders-rookie-draft-recap-breakdown-of-positions-and-talent-added/|website=xflnewshub.com|date=16 June 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=XFL: DC Defenders 2023 Rookie Draft Recap|url=https://shadysportsnetwork.com/2023/06/22/xfl-dc-defenders-2023-rookie-draft-recap/ |website=Shady Sports Network|date=22 June 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=XFL 2023 Draft: Vegas Vipers Rookie Draft Recap – Breakdown of Positions Taken|url=https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/xfl-2023-draft-vegas-vipers-rookie-draft-recap-breakdown-of-positions-taken/|website=xflnewshub.com|date=21 June 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Have the Vegas Vipers Injected More Venom Into This Roster for 2024? |url=https://shadysportsnetwork.com/2023/06/26/have-the-vegas-vipers-injected-more-venom-into-this-roster-for-2024/ |website=Shady Sports Network|date=26 June 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=XFL: SA Brahmas 2023 Rookie Draft Recap |url=https://shadysportsnetwork.com/2023/06/21/xfl-sa-brahmas-2023-rookie-draft-recap/ |website=Shady Sports Network|date=21 June 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=XXFL 2023 Draft: San Antonio Brahmas Rookie Draft Recap – Breakdown of Positions Taken|url=https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/xfl-2023-draft-san-antonio-brahmas-rookie-draft-recap-breakdown-of-positions-taken/|website=xflnewshub.com|date=22 June 2023 |language=en-US}}}}
On the evening of the event, the XFL announced that the following 80 players were selected in the rookie draft. The league didn't published selection order and just announced the selections in alphabetical order by team.{{Cite web|title=XFL Rookie Draft 2023|url=https://www.xfl.com/rookie-draft-pick-2023|website=XFL.com|language=en-US}}
= Arlington Renegades =
| class="wikitable"
!Player !Position !College |
| Sy Barnett
|WR |
| Connor Degenhardt
|QB |
| Ami Finau
|DL |
| Jalen Green
|DB |
| Charles Hall
|WR |
| James Jackson
|OL |
| Jordan Rhodes
|OL |
| Merlin Robertson
|LB |
| Chris Whittaker
|LB |
| Jordan Wright
|LB |
= DC Defenders =
| class="wikitable"
!Player !Position !College |
| Paxton Brooks
|P |
| Matt Carrick
|OL |
| Alex Jensen
|OL |
| C. J. Johnson
|WR |
| Kaleb Oliver
|LB |
| Jack Plumb
|OL |Iowa |
| Bentlee Sanders
|DB |
| Mohamed Sanogo
|LB |
| Ty Scott
|WR |
| Trea Shropshire
|WR |UAB |
= Houston Roughnecks =
| class="wikitable"
!Player !Position !College |
| Jayson Ademilola
|DL |
| Austin Ajiake
|LB |UNLV |
| Michael Ayers
|LB |
| Quinton Barrow
|DB |
| Momar Fall
|DL |
| Ahofitu Maka
|OL |UTSA |
| Alijah McGhee
|DB |
| Marcus Minor
|OL |
| Marvin Pierre
|LB |
| Lindsey Scott Jr.
|QB |
= Orlando Guardians =
| class="wikitable"
!Player !Position !College |
| Jeremy Cooper
|OL |
| Kosi Eldridge
|LB |
| Terry Hampton
|DL |
| K.D. Hill
|DL |
| Jarrett Horst
|OL |
| Darius Joiner
|DB |Duke |
| Jacquez Jones
|LB |
| Keyron Kinsler
|DB |
| Brock Martin
|DL |
| Laquinston Sharp
|OL |
= San Antonio Brahmas =
| class="wikitable"
!Player !Position !College |
| Jahleel Billingsley
|TE |
| Brendan Bordner
|OL |
| Carlos Carriere
|WR |
| Darrious Gaines
|DB |
| R.J. Hubert
|DB |Utah |
| Lorenzo McCaskill
|LB |
| Dylan O'Quinn
|OL |
| J.C. Santana
|WR |
| Chris Smith
|RB |
| Dillon Thomas
|DB |
= Seattle Sea Dragons =
| class="wikitable"
!Player !Position !College |
| Sam Burt
|DL |
| Des Holmes
|OL |
| Malcolm Lee
|DL |
| Wes Moeai
|DL |
| Colby Reeder
|LB |
| Titus Swen
|RB |
| Destin Talbert
|DB |
| Chad Townsend
|WR |
| Jazston Turnetine
|OL |
| Payton Wilgar
|LB |BYU |
= St. Louis Battlehawks =
| class="wikitable"
!Player !Position !College |
| Nico Bolden
|DB |
| James Bostic
|RB |Ohio |
| Johnny Buchanan
|LB |
| Darion Chafin
|WR |
| Jaocb Gall
|OL |
| Kemore Gamble
|TE |UCF |
| Matthew Jester
|DL |
| Kevo Latulas
|RB |
| Jadrian Taylor
|DL |UTEP |
| Anthony Witherstone
|DB |
= Vegas Vipers =
| class="wikitable"
!Player !Position !College |
| Nick Amoah
|OL |
| Desmond Bessent
|OL |
| Dwayne Boyles
|LB |
| Stacy Chukwumezie
|WR |
| Jamare Edwards
|DL |
| Lorenzo Fauatea
|DL |BYU |
| T.J. Green
|RB |
| Robert Mitchell
|OL |
| Darrius Nash
|DB |
| Naasir Watkins
|OL |
Undrafted players
On June 20, the XFL announced that the rights to 44 undrafted players have been claimed by teams.{{Cite web|title=XFL Teams Claim Rights to 44 Undrafted Rookies|url=https://www.xfl.com/xfl-latest-news/xfl-teams-claim-rights-to-44-undrafted-rookies|website=XFL.com|language=en-US|date=June 20, 2023}}
= Arlington Renegades =
| class="wikitable"
!Player !Position !College |
| Tyrell Aijan
|DB |
| Connor Blumrick
|QB |
| Noah Henderson
|OL |
| Ike Irabor
|RB |
| Todd Simmons
|WR |
| Noah Taylor
|LB |
= DC Defenders =
| class="wikitable"
!Player !Position !College |
| Adonis Boone
|OL |
| Jahlil Brown
|DB |
| Warren Ericson
|OL |
| Josh Falo
|TE |USC |
= Houston Roughnecks =
| class="wikitable"
!Player !Position !College |
| Isaiah Bowser
|RB |UCF |
| Cody Chrest
|WR |
| Christian Ealey
|OL |
| Dalton Godfrey
|LS |
| Braydon Johnson
|WR |
| Destin Mack
|DB |
| Christian Morgan
|DB |
= Orlando Guardians =
= San Antonio Brahmas =
| class="wikitable"
!Player !Position !College |
| Luke Ford
|WR |
| Micahh Smith
|DB |
| Nazier Wright
|LB |
= Seattle Sea Dragons =
| class="wikitable"
!Player !Position !College |
| Dillon Doyle
|LB |
| Beau Kelly
|WR |
| Luke Loecher
|P |
| N'Kosi Perry
|QB |
| Morgan Vest
|DB |
| Dawson Weber
|DB |
| Lazarius Williams
|DL |
= St. Louis Battlehawks =
| class="wikitable"
!Player !Position !College |
| Kemari Averett
|WR |
| Eric Black
|DL |
| Aidan Borguet
|RB |
| Marcus Cushnie
|LB |
| Jaylen Hall
|WR |
| Dom Peterson
|DL |
| Justin Ragin
|DL |
= Vegas Vipers =
| class="wikitable"
!Player !Position !College |
| Trey Cobb
|LB |
| Alfred Edwards
|OL |
| Victor Jones
|DL |
Other undrafted players were invited to XFL player showcases, with a chance to exhibit their skills in front of XFL coaches and personnel directors. Players were evaluated based on performance for inclusion in the XFL player pool for the upcoming 2024 season. The top performers were invited to the XFL Combine, which was held July 25–27 in Arlington, Texas.{{Cite web|title=XFL Completes Rookie Draft|url=https://www.xfl.com/xfl-latest-news/xfl-completes-rookie-draft|website=XFL.com|language=en-US}}