ARLINGTON, TX – November 11, 2026 – As the Rhode Island Breakers prepare for their debut season in the UFL, AJ McCarron prepares for his second season as a head coach. McCarron will bring the core of his roster from Birmingham with him to Rhode Island, and the 2027 UFL Draft presents an opportunity to address the gaps his roster experienced last spring.
1: Establish an Offensive Line
The biggest struggle for McCarron's offense last season was up front. When Dorian Thompson-Robinson was traded from Orlando to Birmingham, he provided an instant spark for the Stallions and immediately established them as postseason contenders. With DTR returning to McCarron's offense in 2027, he simply needs the protection to operate.
Last season, Birmingham surrendered a league-worst 18 sacks across the 10-game regular season. The struggles up front also impacted the rushing attack, which finished with just 739 yards on the ground. With three capable running backs in the room, improving the offensive line could help unlock more production from the ground game while giving DTR the protection he needs.
The trenches were plagued with injuries week in and week out, which is, of course, an intangible. However, it is vital that McCarron adds personnel up front to aid both DTR and the rushing game.
2: Reinforce the Defensive Front
Last season, Birmingham struggled to create disruption up front, allowing opposing offenses to find success both on the ground and through the air. The Stallions finished last in the UFL with just 17 sacks and second-to-last in tackles for loss with 42. Additionally, they surrendered the most rushing yards per game and the second-most passing yards per game.
These numbers need to improve in order for the defense to get on track in 2027. The strong suit for their defense came in the linebacker room with Tae Crowder and Kyahva Tezino, who both ranked in the top three in tackles in the UFL. In fact, Crowder broke the UFL single-season tackle record with an eye-popping 84 in just nine games.
But even with that production in the middle of the defensive structure, it's still clear that the team needs support up front. Acquiring an edge rusher or defensive lineman who can win at the line of scrimmage, disrupt the run game, and pressure the quarterback is crucial.
3: Add a Playmaker to the Secondary
Last season's secondary was an opportunistic group that produced 10 interceptions, tied for the second-most in the UFL. However, despite its ability to create turnovers, the unit struggled to consistently limit opposing passing attacks. They surrendered 2,018 passing yards, the second-most in the league, while the defense allowed opponents to convert 43.9% of their third-down attempts.
The secondary was led by Tre Norwood and Alex Cook, who were both standouts for the defense. Norwood finished the season with 59 tackles, the most among defensive backs in the UFL. However, with Cook's return uncertain following his stint with the Los Angeles Rams during NFL preseason, adding defensive backs to support the production could move the needle for McCarron's squad.
With Norwood expected to return in 2027, adding another playmaker to the secondary could help take this unit to another level. If the Breakers can also generate more pressure up front, as mentioned in point No. 2, it would give their defensive backs more opportunities to make plays on the football. The foundation is there, but adding another difference-maker could make this group more consistent.
McCarron's team seemed close to putting the pieces together last season, and the addition of DTR gave the offense a much-needed spark. Now, the focus shifts to building around him and addressing the defensive weaknesses that kept them from reaching their full potential.
With the Breakers' UFL debut approaching, the 2027 UFL Draft is an important first step in building the foundation for Rhode Island's inaugural season.