Saints Alumni Find New Life in the UFL, Keeping NFL Dreams Alive
As the 2026 United Football League (UFL) season draws closer, a wave of former New Orleans Saints players are suiting up with a renewed sense of purpose. For these athletes, the UFL isn’t just a spring league-it’s a proving ground, a second chance, and a shot at redemption. And for the Saints, it's become a valuable pipeline of talent worth keeping tabs on.
The New Class of 2026: Fresh Faces, Familiar Names
The latest UFL Draft and quarterback allocation process featured a handful of recent Saints alumni looking to carve out a bigger role-and maybe punch their ticket back to the NFL.
Hunter Dekkers (QB) - Houston Gamblers
Dekkers had a whirlwind 2025 with New Orleans, bouncing on and off the roster nearly a dozen times.
He was the definition of a depth option-always around, never quite sticking. Rather than wait on another reserve/future contract, Dekkers made the smart move: get live reps, build tape, and take control of his own narrative in Houston.
Marcus Yarns (RB) - Houston Gamblers
Yarns entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2025, but with Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller ahead of him, the Saints' backfield was a tough room to crack. Now, he’ll join Dekkers in Houston with something to prove-namely, that his burst and big-play ability can translate with a bigger role.
Veterans of the UFL Pipeline
This isn’t new territory for the Saints. The connection between New Orleans and the UFL has been steadily growing over the past few seasons.
Back in the 2024 UFL College Draft, five players who were still fighting for spots on the Saints’ roster were selected by UFL teams. Some stuck in the NFL.
Others are now using the UFL as a bridge back.
Among them:
- Dallin Holker (TE)
- Trajan Jeffcoat (EDGE)
- Sincere Haynesworth (OL)
- Mason Tipton (WR)
- Abram Smith (RB)
These players were essentially drafted on contingency-if they didn’t stick in the NFL, their rights in the UFL were already secured. It’s a smart system, and for players like Tipton and Holker, it offers a ready-made landing spot to keep developing.
Saints Alumni Making Noise in the UFL
Some former Saints have already made their mark in the spring league, turning heads and stacking resumes.
Abram Smith (RB)
Smith went undrafted but made enough of an impression in New Orleans to earn a shot elsewhere.
He ended up being the No. 1 overall pick in the XFL before the merger and has since become a cornerstone for the D.C. Defenders.
He’s been one of the league’s most productive backs and a clear example of what the UFL can do for a player’s career.
Kellen Mond (QB)
Mond had a brief stint with the Saints in 2024, brought in to help install Klint Kubiak’s offense. While his time in New Orleans was short, he’s now in San Antonio with the Brahmas, competing for a starting job and looking to show he can lead an offense at a high level.
Alizé Mack (TE)
A 2019 seventh-round pick by the Saints, Mack bounced around practice squads for years before finding some stability with San Antonio in the UFL. He’s a prime example of a player who just needed the right opportunity to showcase his skillset.
Why This Matters for the Saints
For New Orleans, the UFL isn’t just a curiosity-it’s a practical extension of the scouting department. General Manager Mickey Loomis has shown a willingness to mine the spring league for depth and potential.
Just ask Barry Wesley, the offensive tackle who made the leap from the Birmingham Stallions to the Saints’ practice squad. That’s not just good scouting-it’s good roster management.
With the 2026 UFL season set to kick off in March, Saints fans will have plenty of familiar names to follow. And for the players, it’s more than just a second chance-it’s a runway back to the Superdome.
So don’t be surprised if some of these names resurface in the summer, showing up in camp with a little more polish, a little more experience, and a whole lot more motivation. The UFL is giving these former Saints a platform-and they’re making the most of it.