The United Football League (UFL) season concluded with the “United Bowl” on June 13, and all players then became free agents on June 15. The UFL is set up with all of its athletes signing one-year deals, and the season concludes in time for its players to be signed to NFL training camps.
The Cleveland Browns recently worked out a UFL player.
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Last year, 190 UFL players got workout invitations, with 160 signing training camp contracts. In Week 1, 47 players were on the main rosters, the practice squad, or some sort of injury list. So far, 23 UFL players have been signed to NFL rosters.
The Browns worked out linebacker Ron Stone, Jr., from the Columbus Aviators.
On the surface, bringing in another linebacker might seem to be a futile function. The Browns currently have in the LB room Carson Schwesinger, free agent signee Quincy Williams, Winston Reid, rookie Justin Jefferson, Bookie Watson, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Reid Carrico, and Edefuan Ulofoshio. Those are great numbers. Notice that JOK’s name has been dropped from the roster.
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However, Cleveland usually keeps only six linebackers each year going into Week 1.
Competition in training camp makes all players better. It pushes the starter not to assume that his job is safe. And sometimes, the new guy will beat out the incumbent, and a new regime will begin. Plus, all GMs have a registry of free agents sorted by position. This comes into play when a guy is injured, and the team needs a replacement right away.
Stone, Jr. (6’-3”, 257 pounds) had an elite career while at Washington State and was named First Team All-Pac-12 Conference in his sophomore year (2021), Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 Conference (2023) as a senior, and Second Team All-Pac-12 Conference after his junior year (2022). He finished with 202 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, and five forced fumbles.
His father, Ron Stone, played 13 years as an offensive guard in the NFL, so he has lineage.
Stone, Jr. went undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft and was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders and released on the final cutdown. He played for the Michigan Panthers for the next two seasons, then signed with Columbus for the 2026 season. This past season, he had 32 total tackles,5.5 sacks, and played in all 10 games.
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He was not signed, but it does not mean he won’t be before or during training camp.
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