The existence of football minor leagues is an important step for players to get new chances in the NFL. But it's also relevant for NFL front offices, who get more opportunities to scout players on the field. Last year, the Green Bay Packers signed multiple players from the USFL: TE Sal Cannella, WR Osirus Mitchell, WR Ishmael Hyman, S Micah Abernathy, RB Dexter Williams, and K Ramiz Ahmed.

While the second season of the USFL hasn't started yet, the XFL is going to the eighth week of the regular season — there are 10 weeks, plus two postseason weeks.
Let's take a look at XFL players who could help the Packers and try to make the 53-man roster.

QB AJ McCarron, St. Louis BattleHawks
When the Packers trade Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, it'll be imperative to add a backup quarterback. McCarron has extensive NFL experience, where he's played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans, and Atlanta Falcons. He decided to play in the XFL to allow his children to watch him on the field, but he certainly still has the ability to be in an NFL camp. He leads the XFL in touchdowns and TD:INT ratio, and is second in passing yards.

RB Abram Smith, DC Defenders
The former Baylor running back was undrafted last season and spent the training camp with the New Orleans Saints. He is still young, 24 years old. He leads the XFL in rushing yards, yards per run among players with at least 20 attempts, and scores. For the Defenders, he's had 654 yards in 121 runs and six touchdowns.

WR Hakeem Butler, St. Louis BattleHawks
Butler was a promising young player, but didn't live up to expectations in his first chances in the NFL. He spent just one season with the Arizona Cardinals after being drafted in the fourth round in 2019. Butler had smaller opportunities for the Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles (where he even tried a transition to tight end), and in the CFL. In the XFL, he's been a primary target for McCarron, and he's been able to apply his big body and physicality to generate production. He is tied for first in receiving touchdowns (5) and is fifth in receiving yards.

TE Sal Cannella, Arlington Renegades
Well, we know the Packers like Cannella because they signed him last preseason after he was a 1st-team All-USFL, and he was better than Tyler Davis in a small sample size. He didn't make the roster or the practice squad, though, and came back to the minor leagues. Now, he's again playing like an NFL tight end. He leads the XFL in receiving yards, targets, and receptions among tight ends — if we consider Cody Latimer as a wide receiver. Taking into consideration how thin the Packers depth is at the position, it makes sense to give Cannella another chance.

EDGE Trent Harris, Houston Roughnecks
Harris has played under Wade Phillips in a classic 3-4 scheme with the Houston Roughnecks, and he leads the XFL in sacks, with seven in six games. He's also tied for first in tackles for loss, which shows how frequently he's in the opposing backfield. Harris is 27 and has played in the NFL for the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, and Las Vegas Raiders.

S Sean Davis, Houston Roughnecks
Safety is arguably the most pressing need on the Packers roster, and Sean Davis has plenty of NFL experience. A former second-round pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers, he's also played for Washington, the Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, and New England Patriots. After a year away from the NFL, he decided to give it another chance and signed with the Houston Roughnecks. He leads the league in interceptions among safeties, with three, and also has had 16 tackles.

K Dominik Eberle, Seattle Sea Dragons
Kicking is a difficult proposition, and sometimes players take time to develop. That might be Eberle's case. Born in Germany, the kicker spent some time with the Packers last offseason, but was released before training camp. He's played two NFL games, one for the Houston Texans in 2021 and one for the Detroit Lions last year, both as a replacement kicker, converting three out of four field goals and seven out of nine extra points. In the XFL for the Seattle Sea Dragons, Eberle has converted 12 field goals (1st in the league) in 13 attempts, including a 54-yarder. He has the best field goal percentage among qualified kickers. Right now, Parker White is the only kicker on the Packers roster, so it's inevitable the team will add another piece to create a competition if Mason Crosby doesn't re-sign.

Photo: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports