ARLINGTON, TEXAS (August 10, 2026) – It was announced today that wide receivers Cornell Powell of the DC Defenders and Isaiah Winstead of the Louisville Kings have both signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Houston Gamblers defensive back Roman Parodie has signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There are now a total of 45 players from 2026 UFL rosters to have signed NFL contracts since the conclusion of the UFL season. With the signing of Parodie to Tampa Bay, there are also now 19 NFL teams who have signed a UFL player this offseason.
Additionally, wide receiver D.J. Montgomery, who was with the Michigan Panthers in 2023, signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Across all years of UFL and spring football alumni, there are now 80 players under contract and in NFL training camps heading into the preseason.
Cornell Powell (6-0, 204, Clemson)
In 2026, Powell led the Defenders with 34 receptions for 491 yards and one touchdown in nine games, ranking sixth in the UFL in receiving yards. Powell was also recognized as the 2026 UFL Sportsman of the Year for his leadership, character and commitment to service both on and off the field. He founded The Powell Project in 2021 to support youth and underserved families in his hometown of Greenville, North Carolina, and has led youth football camps, mentorship programs and community initiatives through the organization.
A Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, Powell was selected by Kansas City in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft and spent three seasons with the organization, appearing in three games. He also spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, and Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the DC Defenders. Powell helped DC win the 2025 UFL championship, leading the league with seven receiving touchdowns that season. A four-year contributor at Clemson, Powell appeared in 54 games and finished his collegiate career with 93 receptions for 1,211 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had his breakout season as a senior in 2020, recording 53 receptions for 882 yards and seven touchdowns.
Isaiah Winstead (6-3, 216, East Carolina)
Winstead played in eight games for the 2026 United Bowl champion Louisville Kings, leading the team with 29 receptions for 474 yards and tying for the team lead with three receiving touchdowns. He spent the previous two seasons with the Dallas Renegades, recording 43 receptions for 482 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games. Winstead entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. After spending the season on the 49ers practice squad, he joined the New York Jets during the 2024 offseason, spending training camp with the team.
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Winstead played collegiately at East Carolina, where he earned All-American Athletic Conference honorable mention honors as a senior in 2022 after leading the Pirates with 88 receptions for 1,085 yards and six touchdowns. He began his collegiate career at Norfolk State before transferring to Toledo and then East Carolina.
Roman Parodie (6-2, 204, Ohio)
Played in six games for the 2026 Houston Gamblers, recording seven tackles, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Parodie originally signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2025 and appeared in two preseason games, recording six tackles, and an interception he returned 39 yards for a touchdown.
Parodie played in 51 games during his five-year collegiate career at Ohio, finishing with 124 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, three interceptions, 28 pass breakups, one forced fumble and four fumble recoveries, and also helped the Bobcats win the MAC Championship in his senior season.