After an injury-ridden, missed-opportunity season, the DC Defenders fall to a very pivotal point in the roster. As the 2025 UFL season approaches, critical choices are weighing upon the organization’s shoulders that will conclude whether they get back into playoff contention or face another year of disappointment.

The Quarterback Conundrum

The most pressing concern for the Defenders has been their quarterback situation, which is still unsettled. As it stands, their current roster only includes Mike DiLiello, a promising but yet unproven talent coming from Austin Peay. As far as promise goes, DiLiello may have it in spades, but his complete lack of professional experience provides a serious question mark over where the team currently is and where it will go.

The elephant in the room is Jordan Ta’amu, who has been the starter for the team over the last two seasons and has not signed as of yet. Ta’amu’s 2024 season left a lot to be desired, particularly in crucial moments. History would suggest he is best when he has elite talent around him but struggles when asked to carry the weight on his shoulders-a trend that showed during his time with DC and previously in the USFL with the Tampa Bay Bandits.

At the most recent shuffle, the Defenders traded back-up QB Jalan McClendon to the Houston Roughnecks in exchange for DB Kiondre Thomas. What’s intriguing, however, is who they have in store: their UFL Draft picks, Kedon Slovis and Tanner Mordecai, currently on NFL rosters. If either becomes available, they could be just what the team needs to revitalize the position.

Rebuilding the Offensive Arsenal

Ground Game Revival

The Defenders made a huge move by re-signing running back Abram Smith, whose return to 2023 form would be a transformative factor in the offense. With the worst rushing attack in the UFL last season-a rotation of Cam’Ron Harris, Darius Hagans, and ZaQuandre White failed to produce consistency-the hope is Smith’s return from an ACL injury is the key to fitting the offense together.

The receiving corps was rounded out by Chris Rowland, poised for an expanded role in 2025. A potential return by Ty Scott would prove valuable to continuity, but with Brandon Smith and Kelvin Harmon now in the NFL, it’s time to rebuild depth. Keke Coutee and Vyncint Smith remain on the open market, but their pedestrian 2024 performances could prove beneficial for the addition of fresh talent.

One of the positions that is somewhat of a bright spot is tight end, as hope comes back in the form of re-signing Briley Moore. When healthy, Moore has shown he can be one of the better tight ends in the UFL, although he has missed a fair amount of time due to injury.

Strengthening the Trenches

The front office has made it a point to retain talent along the offensive line. They’ve locked up the following key pieces:

Tackles: Yasir Durant, Jarrid Williams
Guards: Lamont Gaillard, John Yarbrough
Centers: Mike Maietti and David Satkowski

Tykeem Doss and Darrell Simpson bring in the veteran NFL talent into this unit to add some excellent depth and upside to a unit that improved at the back end of the 2024 season. Of note, Satkowski might just become the key factor for a unit losing Liam Fornadel to the NFL.

To the Future

The 2025 season is more than just another year for the Defenders-really, it’s a chance to redefine who they are. Success hangs in the balance with the quarterback situation, the running game, and the momentum they built up late in the season by the offensive line.

With many of the key pieces in place and some still in flux, the next few months will prove critical to building a roster capable of returning to playoff contention. The decisions made during this offseason could easily make all the difference between whether the Defenders can reclaim their position among the elite of the UFL or face another year of rebuilding.

For Defender’s fans, it will be another season of waiting, but the wheeling and dealing by the front office would seemingly point out that management is fully aware of what’s hanging in the balance. The 2025 season may not be so much about winning games as setting the franchise’s direction for the next several years.

UFL 2025 Season Schedule Opponents for All Teams