Ranking the UFL’s biggest offensive-line needs ahead of the draft

Several UFL coaches could turn to the trenches early in the upcoming draft. AJ McCarron and Ricky Proehl have already emphasized building through the lines—and the 2026 blocking numbers help explain why.

Rhode Island needs improvement in both phases. Colorado needs to reduce the pressure reaching its quarterbacks. Dallas has weak spots to address without discarding everything that worked. St. Louis needs to create more room for its runners.

Those are four different assignments for the November 18 UFL Draft. Simply adding offensive linemen will not answer them. The selections need to match the weaknesses—and ultimately become players who sign, earn snaps and improve the unit. The order below weighs the breadth and severity of those needs, rather than treating one statistic as an overall ranking.

The league’s roster realignment is essential context: Birmingham’s foundation moves to Rhode Island, last season’s Dallas roster to Colorado, and Kevin Sumlin’s Houston group to Dallas. The numbers describe those 2026 groups, not settled 2027 depth charts. Departures, retention decisions and new signings can change the assignment.

Statistics are from PFF’s 2026 regular-season-plus-postseason exports, covering teams that played 10–12 games. Grades are evaluations, not percentages, and team blocking grades include more than the five linemen. Line-charged pressure and sack rates are per 100 pass snaps; pressure events are not necessarily distinct pressured plays. Sacks also involve quarterback decisions, coverage and scheme.

1. Rhode Island: build a stronger foundation in both phases

The Birmingham foundation had the league’s lowest PFF team grades in both pass blocking and run blocking. Its line allowed 30.24 charged pressures per 100 pass snaps, second-most.

The halfbacks collectively gained only 0.80 yards before contact per carry, calculated from PFF’s rushing totals. That measure also reflects runners and scheme, but it reinforces the concern rather than offering a reassuring counterweight.

The numbers support AJ McCarron’s emphasis: on The Coach JB Show with Big Smitty, November 3, he identified offensive and defensive line as early draft priorities rather than quarterback (about 1:01:27).

McCarron also said he has Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Improving the protection around the quarterback competition and creating space for the backs are more complementary goals than competing ones. Rhode Island has the strongest case for multiple additions capable of improving both phases, rather than expecting one specialist to repair the entire offense.

2. Colorado: make pass protection the priority

Rick Neuheisel’s former Dallas line finished last in PFF’s OL pass-blocking efficiency. Its 108 charged pressures over 351 pass snaps translate to 30.77 per 100, the league’s highest frequency.

New Stampede camp quarterback Sawyer Robertson, whose addition was reported November 2, does not settle the starting job. Whoever wins it needs a more dependable pocket. Colorado’s draft case starts with pass-protection competition if those weaknesses remain after roster turnover.

3. Dallas: reinforce weak spots while preserving strengths

Sumlin’s Houston offense had the league’s second-lowest team grades in both pass blocking and run blocking.

There is an important counterweight: Houston’s OL pass-blocking efficiency was a league-best 85.8. Separately, its 25.14 charged pressures per 100 pass snaps were second-fewest. Its halfbacks averaged 4.54 yards per carry, third among the eight halfback groups. This was not the worst line by every measure, nor an entirely ineffective ground game.

That puts Dallas below Colorado in urgency. The strategy should be targeted reinforcement, not treating every returning blocker as a problem. Dallas has added TJ Finley and Emory Jones, while the returns of Hunter Dekkers and John Rhys Plumlee remain uncertain, according to the league’s November 6 preview. Improving the line makes sense without assuming who will earn the quarterback job.

Gottlieb Ayedze is another name to monitor: Miami released him from its practice squad on October 30, after his 2026 All-UFL season with Houston. That connects him to Sumlin’s roster foundation, not the old Dallas team. A return could help Dallas’ eventual quarterback and running backs, but only with a confirmed agreement and role; the release is not a Dallas signing.

4. St. Louis: improve rushing space while preserving protection

Ricky Proehl’s emphasis is well founded, too. Asked about draft priorities in his 101 ESPN interview published November 2 (about 11:13), he stressed building through both lines, with blockers who move defenders for a good running game and balanced attack.

The Battlehawks’ team run-blocking grade was third-lowest. Their halfbacks gained 851 yards on 230 carries, but 732 came after contact. That leaves just 0.52 yards before contact per carry, lowest among the eight halfback groups.

Pass protection was stronger: the team pass-blocking grade and OL pass-blocking efficiency each ranked second. The line’s 107 charged pressures over 417 pass snaps translate to 25.66 per 100, third-fewest. That supports improving the ground game without assuming pass protection needs a wholesale rebuild.

St. Louis should seek better run blocking without sacrificing its relative protection strengths. That is a more precise objective than rebuilding the whole line. The rushing evidence earns the fourth spot here; a protection-only ranking would look different.

The other four: narrower priorities, not permission to stand still

Louisville’s 27.79 charged pressures per 100 pass snaps support giving the offensive line some attention during the draft.

Orlando’s team run-blocking grade ranked fifth among the eight teams, while its pass-blocking grade ranked third. That makes rushing improvement more compelling than rebuilding Jack Plummer’s passing environment.

Columbus is the closest protection-focused challenger: 29.05 charged pressures per 100 pass snaps, but a league-best 57.0 team run-blocking grade. Protection upgrades should preserve that rushing foundation.

DC finished with the highest team pass-blocking grade.

For some teams, the best draft strategy may be less about the flashiest name and more about a stronger foundation up front.