2026 DFA Draft Results

112 Players Selected to Build the Inaugural Developmental Football Association Rosters

The Developmental Football Association (DFA) officially completed its 2026 Inaugural Player Draft, marking a major milestone in the launch of the league’s first season.

Broadcast live to players and fans, the draft saw 112 athletes selected across 19 rounds as the four founding franchises constructed their inaugural rosters for the upcoming season.

The draft followed a snake format, ensuring competitive balance between teams throughout the selection process. The first ten rounds consisted of one selection per team, while the remaining rounds expanded roster construction as organizations completed their depth charts.

The four founding DFA teams participating in the draft were:

• Northwest Nightwolves
• Minneapolis Warhawks
• East Side Engine
• Twin Cities Tundra

Each franchise evaluated players through combine performances, film submissions, football resumes, and the DFA declaration process before making their selections.

By the end of the draft, 112 players from across Minnesota and beyond secured roster spots, representing a mix of former college athletes, high school standouts, and experienced adult football competitors.

With the draft now complete, teams will begin preparing for the upcoming season through roster integration, team meetings, and training sessions.

You can watch back the entire 2026 draft on the DFA Podcast Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITYMcpSZsUE&t=5895s

Round 1

Northwest Nightwolves
QB Montrea Talabi

Minneapolis Warhawks
OL Thaddiius Toliver

East Side Engine
RB Shaquan Johnson

Twin Cities Tundra
DL/OL Samuel Moor

Round 2

Twin Cities Tundra
DL/OL Humberto Castillo

East Side Engine
DL Dakota Muller

Minneapolis Warhawks
DE Joshua Sims

Northwest Nightwolves
WR Keyon Thomas

Round 3

Northwest Nightwolves
OL/DL Matthew Engebos

Minneapolis Warhawks
WR Jalen Frye

East Side Engine
DL Tony Payne

Twin Cities Tundra
CB Dwayne Wade Jr

Round 4

Twin Cities Tundra
CB Zeke Carr

East Side Engine
OT Michael Ausmus

Minneapolis Warhawks
TE Najew Brown-Gray

Northwest Nightwolves
DL Bryce Buckingham

Round 5

Northwest Nightwolves
RB/DB Sean Hayden

Minneapolis Warhawks
WR Gary Smith

East Side Engine
DL Alex Fischer

Twin Cities Tundra
QB/WR Lando Collins

Round 6

Twin Cities Tundra
WR Nathan Raggs

East Side Engine
LB Maurio Simms

Minneapolis Warhawks
QB Treshon Walker

Northwest Nightwolves
LB/D Hector Fofanah

Round 7

Northwest Nightwolves
LB Arlin Wertish

Minneapolis Warhawks
DE Letrell Christopher

East Side Engine
TE Dennis Kornberg

Twin Cities Tundra
LB Akeem Peterson

Round 8

Twin Cities Tundra
DL Bryce Beck

East Side Engine
DB Laide Gbadamosi-Alashe

Minneapolis Warhawks
DB Taijhaun Williams

Northwest Nightwolves
DB Devonte Mitchell

Round 9

Northwest Nightwolves
WR Jonttiere Terry Thomas

Minneapolis Warhawks
DB Creston Tobert

East Side Engine
WR Justice Walton

Twin Cities Tundra
RB/LB Malaki Flowers

Round 10

Twin Cities Tundra
DB Al Matoke

East Side Engine
OL Brett Zimmer

Minneapolis Warhawks
DL Dmarko Beanon

Northwest Nightwolves
WR Ryan Meyer

Round 11

Northwest Nightwolves
RB Jalon Hopkins

Northwest Nightwolves
OL Darion Wilson

Minneapolis Warhawks
DB Alric Childs

Minneapolis Warhawks
RB Jasper Walker

East Side Engine
DB Chase Davis

East Side Engine
DB Dazzmontay King

Twin Cities Tundra
RB Tyrone Douglas

Twin Cities Tundra
DL Dwayne Young

Round 12

Twin Cities Tundra
LB Fabien Gutierrez

Twin Cities Tundra
WR Senay Melake

East Side Engine
QB Ben Sepulveda

East Side Engine
Dylan Robinson

Minneapolis Warhawks
DE Destin Jacob

Minneapolis Warhawks
DL/OL Deshawn Goodman

Northwest Nightwolves
Evontae Townsend

Northwest Nightwolves
Shakur Smith

Round 13

Northwest Nightwolves
Manliz Arrington

Northwest Nightwolves
Desmon Whitmire

Minneapolis Warhawks
RB/H-Back Marion Jackson-Davis

Minneapolis Warhawks
QB Sheldon Richards-Shields

East Side Engine
Jairo Martinez Fragoso

East Side Engine
LB Kervin Dixon

Twin Cities Tundra
Rickheal Hawkins

Twin Cities Tundra
Tyrese Seyon

Round 14

Twin Cities Tundra
RB Nakaylin Yost

Twin Cities Tundra
WR Joshua Harris

East Side Engine
Andrew Best

East Side Engine
Torri Cross

Minneapolis Warhawks
DB Darrius Carey

Minneapolis Warhawks
RB Nate Krause

Northwest Nightwolves
Levell Lyles

Northwest Nightwolves
Demitre Stampley

Round 15

Northwest Nightwolves
Kiegan Benson

Northwest Nightwolves
Hakeem Anderson

Minneapolis Warhawks
DL Montrell Donaldson

Minneapolis Warhawks
RB Carnell Day

East Side Engine
Jared Lane

East Side Engine
Ruben Baltierrez

Twin Cities Tundra
QB Kaden Henson

Twin Cities Tundra
WR Isiah Valentin

Round 16

Twin Cities Tundra
DB Daniel Hughes

Twin Cities Tundra
RB Tray Kingsland

East Side Engine
Ethan Gilman

East Side Engine
Damien Fox

Minneapolis Warhawks
Knowledge Gutierrez

Minneapolis Warhawks
Brad Spannbauer

Northwest Nightwolves
Brad Rakstad

Northwest Nightwolves
Matthew Thayer

Round 17

Northwest Nightwolves
Bill Fitchman

Northwest Nightwolves
Sincere Harvey

Minneapolis Warhawks
Damari Pittman

Minneapolis Warhawks
Michael Fletcher

East Side Engine
Lemar Borders

East Side Engine
Boston Trent

Twin Cities Tundra
RB Malik Butcher

Twin Cities Tundra
RB Teto Harris Jr

Round 18

Twin Cities Tundra
DB Michael Stevenson

Twin Cities Tundra
WR Donovan Campos

East Side Engine
Malik Stewart

East Side Engine
McDaniel Scales

Minneapolis Warhawks
Randy Wunderlich

Minneapolis Warhawks
Liam Qaasim

Northwest Nightwolves
Amier Adams

Northwest Nightwolves
Quinlan Riffenberg

Round 19

Northwest Nightwolves
Delone Jackson

Northwest Nightwolves
Zachary Ruzin

Minneapolis Warhawks
Cedric Caschetta

Minneapolis Warhawks
Joseph Griemann

East Side Engine
Tyler Barnet

East Side Engine
None Selected

Twin Cities Tundra
None Selected

Draft Breakdown

Total Players Drafted: 112

Players Per Team: 28

Northwest Nightwolves – 28
Minneapolis Warhawks – 28
East Side Engine – 28
Twin Cities Tundra – 28

The draft officially completes the foundation of the inaugural DFA rosters, setting the stage for team development and preparations leading into the 2026 season.

Players selected in the draft will now move into the next phase of the process, which includes signing their DFA Letter of Intent, connecting with their coaches and general managers, and beginning team activities.

Additional player spotlights, roster breakdowns, and team previews will be released soon on DFAFootball.org.