XFL power rankings heading into Week 1 of 2023 season

Similar to Orlando, the St. Louis Battlehawks also have an inexperienced coaching staff. However, former New York Jets tight end Anthony Becht has been receiving solid reviews on his performance early on. Plus, the team has a five-year NFL veteran QB in AJ McCarron and several talented receivers on the roster. They certainly have the potential to surprise early in 2023.

6. Houston Roughnecks

The Houston Roughnecks have the most notable veteran head coach in Wade Phillips leading the team in 2023. There is reason to expect the defensive guru to mold Houston into being one of the better defensive units in the XFL. However, several questions surround the offense heading into Week 1, which lands them at six in our first list.

5. Las Vegas Vipers

The Las Vegas Vipers have an interesting upside considering the unique group of defensive minds they have to lead the team. First-time head coach and Hall of Famer Rod Woodson is one of the marquee names in this latest version of the XFL, and he will get the help of USFL coaching veteran and two-time Pro Bowler Chris Dishman as his defensive coordinator.

Also of note is that QB Bryan Scott is an early player to watch with some around the league viewing him as a dark-horse MVP candidate. Plus, the group has several known NFL veterans on both sides of the ball entering the season.

4. San Antonio Brahmas

The XFL squad with the league boss’ nickname is the team from San Antonio. The Brahmas also have a former Pittsburgh Steelers legend in Hines Ward leading them, but unlike other first-time head coaches, Ward has a pair of coordinators that have a unique leg up on their contemporaries.

Jaime Elizondo and Jim Herrmann both have experience in situations like this, and they have previous histories with several key players on their units. They should have a faster learning curve and start to the 2023 season.

3. D.C. Defenders

The DC Defenders have a major upside due to the successful relationship of head coach Reggie Barlow and offense coordinator Fred Kaiss, who have done well as a team at every stop. Expect this to be a top rushing unit in 2023, because that is what these two coaches have specialized at in the past.

They have a strong backfield with Abram Smith, Ryquell Armstead and Artavis Pierce. They also have 2022 USFL passing leader Jordan Ta'amu on the roster as an option at QB. This team should have a balanced offense and could become a problem for opponents each week.

2. Seattle Sea Dragons

The Seattle Dragons land a high spot in the latest XFL power rankings due to the unique connections and experience of their top front-office figure and the coaching staff. Sea Dragons director of player personnel Randy Mueller, former New Orleans Saints head coach Jim Haslett, established NFL OC June Jones and DC Ron Zook have worked together at various levels. That includes Mueller and Haslett in the XFL in 2020.

They are as unified as any team at the top of the organization and will have a shared focus and direction for their roster in Week 1. Putting it all out on the field will be the big question, but they have solid weapons to work with on both sides of the ball, including former NFL star receiver Josh Gordon.

1. Arlington Renegades

Oklahoma University coaching Bob Stoops is a big part of the reason why the Arlington Renegades land in the top spot of the XFL power rankings. He seemingly learned from his failings in the XFL in 2020 and filled out his staff this time with better fits, including former St. Louis Battlehawks head coach Jonathan Hayes.

The Texas squad is going with co-coordinators on both sides of the ball to get the most out of their deep and experienced coaching staff. The team has a roster full of proven spring pro football stars, including Will Hill and De'Vante Bausby, as well as QB Kyle Sloter and tight end Sal Cannella. Two players that already have a great deal of built-in experience playing together.